KEY POINTS:
Time is running out for A1GP Team.NZL in the race for the championship. With just three rounds to go, including this weekend in Mexico, Jonny Reid and his crew can't afford any more of the mistakes that have plagued them over the last two rounds.
"No more excuses,
we've just got to do it now," said Reid.
Speed is not an issue with Reid or Black Beauty. They have consistently proven to be either the fastest pairing on any given day, or close to it. In Durban, Reid set the fastest race lap on his first time around a street circuit.
Reid needs to finish in front of the Swiss driver Neel Jani and the French team if Team.NZL are to have any chance of winning the title. Switzerland has a 20-point advantage heading to Mexico City but is not safe yet.
All it will take is a small slip-up by Switzerland and New Zealand will be right back in the hunt. However, relying on other team's mistakes is not the way to win titles.
"It's time to show what we're made of," said Reid. "Winning is now the only way to win the championship when you're this far back. It's not going to be easy to regain the lead but we're not lacking in motivation."
The race itself in 2007 was not one to write home about as an average qualifying session put the car in 14th for the sprint race. Getting a puncture didn't help matters, resulting in a 16th place finish. The day was only salvaged when Reid hustled his way through from 16th to finish sixth.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back there," said Reid. "It's unfinished business for me and any circuit I haven't won on fires me up.
The 4.42km Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit is infamous for its high-speed Peraltada corner that's lined with a concrete wall on the outside and has no run-off area.
This year, however, it's been de-tuned and modified slightly with the addition of an extra chicane on the entry to the extremely fast final corner, providing a braking zone and potential overtaking opportunity.
"In my opinion it's a bit of a shame as it's taken a bit of the ballsiness away from it," said Reid. "It's now going to be more technical and the car set-ups will have to change. It's taken away the high-speed stuff and now it's going to be a second/third gear corner."
The track's bumpy surface makes handling difficult and the relatively high altitude - 2285m above sea level - makes for challenging racing conditions. "With no power steering on the A1GP cars it's hard work keeping the car smooth and steady," said Reid. "It's particularly daunting for your arms and it's physically draining because of the high altitude."
Black Beauty first hits the track this morning (NZ time). Qualifying is at 9.15am tomorrow with the sprint race at 6am and the feature race at 10am on Monday.
Switzerland leads on 118 points, is France second with 108 and New Zealand is third on 98.
The next round is in China on April 13.
