Competition for the Suzuki Swift sport cup championship title will take another twist as the series heads to Invercargill for this weekend's programme that includes a 78km race on Saturday evening.
Thames-based teenager AJ Lauder currently leads the title standings by 43 points and thinks the double-points race will bea defining moment as the series enters the mid-way mark in the six-round championship.
"That race will be a make or break, so finishing is the first goal," said Lauder, who is in his fifth season racing the 1600cc cars. "Hopefully it'll be in the front group, where you get the better points."
The race also includes a compulsory stop for each car to remove and replace one wheel.
Taupo's Mark Gibson will be keen to pick up points after relinquishing his early points lead after December's second round.
"I'm definitely focusing on the 30-lap enduro," he said. "After not finishing it last year, it wrecked my championship in the end, so finishing top-three for that is the goal.
"With such a small gap between the two rounds, you have to keep the car nice and tidy for [the next round in] Timaru. You don't want to have to do repair work between the rounds; it costs money and time."
Being held at the world's most southern race circuit, Teretonga Park west of Invercargill, has a long front straight that leads to a sequence of uniquely challenging corners. Totalling 2.62km of mainly left turns, the chance of fickle weather will further test drivers' ability.
