Pitstop: Bathurst test after Baird shock

By BOB PEARCE


Team Kiwi driver Craig Baird will have a point to prove when he and Mark Porter race the team's Holden Commodore in the Bathurst 1000 on Sunday.

The 34-year-old New Zealander, who lives in Queensland, shocked the team management last week when he told them he had accepted a deal to drive for the WPS team next season.

Team owner David John said everyone had been expecting Baird to continue with Team Kiwi for a third season and he was very disappointed.

This year Baird achieved the team's first pole position.

"I think he will have a point to prove at Bathurst," said John.

"Many people forget that the improvement we've made this season is because of the whole package not just the driver.

"I think Baird will be keen to show what he can do at Bathurst. Last year we finished 17th and we'll be aiming for a top 10 this time."

Team Kiwi have finished every Bathurst 1000 they have contested.

Their best finish was 11th in 2002 when Jason Richards and Simon Wills shared the driving.

John said he had been approached by five people already about the drive for next season.

Three were not Kiwis and one was from Europe.

It was possible the team might suspend its policy of favouring New Zealand drivers.

* * *

Carlyle's need for speed

Young Mt Maunganui Ford V8 driver Jared Carlyle may have to make one of his fastest getaways at the Teretonga round of the championship in January.

The 20-year-old is New Zealand's latest Rotax Max Challenge winner, sealing victory at the final round of the five-round karting series in Wellington on Sunday.

The victory earns him an all-expenses-paid trip to the annual world final at Lanzarote in the Canary Islands in late January.

Carlyle will have to make a quick exit from the Invercargill V8 round in order to make the long flight to Europe.

* * *

Big two enrol in world rally

Just as everyone was braced to hear bad news about Ford's continuation in the World Rally Championship, two other teams have delivered some glad tidings.

Skoda and Mitsubishi have confirmed that they will contest the full championship next year, removing the possibility that just Subaru, Citroen and Peugeot would be involved.

This season Skoda restricted its participation to mainly European rounds and Mitsubishi withdrew mid-season after some disastrous results, including an embarrassing less than five minutes of action in New Zealand.

Skoda has signed German Armin Schwarz and intends to contest all 16 rallies with two Fabia cars.

Mitsubishi still has Gilles Panizzi on its driving staff, but has ditched motorsport boss Sven Quandt and returned to Japanese management.

* * *

Perkins cashes in licences

Larry Perkins, who made his last appearance as a driver at Bathurst last season, has sold his team's race licences to Queensland businessman and fellow team owner, Craig Gore.

The sale, which takes effect at the end of the season, is not expected to affect the future operation of Perkins Engineering or Perkins Motorsport.

Among the team's entries at Bathurst this weekend is the father and son pairing of Kiwis Jim and Steve Richards.

* * *

Roestenburg back in fray

Fourteen months after he severely injured his back in an accident on last year's Rally of the North, Aucklander Marty Roestenburg returns as the top seed in Saturday's Lion Foundation-sponsored event in his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO3.

It will be the final round of the Top Half series in which Roestenburg lies in second place, just nine points behind Dave Burgees, who will start fourth in his Subaru Legacy RS.

Between them are Glenn Rosser (Impreza WRX) and Steve Burleigh (Lancer Evo), who holds fifth place on the points table.

The rally starts and finishes in Paihia with three stages in the Kawakawa-Towai area in the morning, followed by a fourth stage at Puketi before the lunch break at Kerikeri.

Three of the afternoon stages are in the Kaeo area, although stage six, the longest of the event at 43km, goes as far north as Kenana, near Mangonui.

The final stage on Oromahoe Rd is close to Opua.

* * *

Crump in long track cameo

Australian rider Jason Crump, a multiple world champion in short-track speedway, will fill a guest spot in the fifth and final round of the Long Track Series at New Plymouth's Pukekura Raceway on November 6.

* * *

Palmy pair win in Malaysia

Palmerston North driver Brian Green and co-driver Fleur Pedersen have won the six-round Malaysian Rally Championship in a Subaru Impreza run by SR Motorsport.

* * *

Newbie wings way into V8

Joe Faram may be a new name in the world of New Zealand V8 tourers, but the Gisborne businessman is set to add a new dimension to the Premier National Class.

Faram, who runs a helicopter company, intends to use one of his craft as a promotional vehicle for the Ballastic Team.

The team, which will run Faram, Dave Parsons and Clark Proctor in Ford Falcons, will also have seven promotional cars.