KEY POINTS:
The 12 Holden drivers are going to have their work cut out at the opening round of the NZV8s championships at Pukekohe Raceway this weekend.
They will have to stave off the onslaught of 21 Fords as the cars roar from the grid in race one tomorrow afternoon.
NZV8s defending champion John McIntyre, who recently co-drove the Team Kiwi Racing car at Sandown and Bathurst, says he's all set to defend his V8s title.
McIntyre won the 2006-07 championships in a nail-biter at Pukekohe in April, with just nine points separating him from previous NZV8 champion Kayne Scott after 21 races throughout the season.
McIntyre doesn't underestimate the importance of securing a podium finish at the opening round to get his points chase off to a good start. As the championship now comprises six events, not seven, it is even more important to make every race count.
"Our preparation has been excellent this year," said McIntyre.
"From a team point of view, we have all the same team members, which is very good for our championship defence.
"We have completely rebuilt the car over a five-month period, going through every nut and bolt and developing the car further. Now it looks like a new car."
Adding a bit of spice to the mixture this year is the return of two-time world touring car champion Paul Radisich, who will be competing in a full New Zealand series for the first time in more than 10 years.
Radisich is starting to find form in the V8s again as shown by his second place at Sandown in the first of the Supercar V8 endurance rounds, co-driving with defending champion Rick Kelly.
The NZV8s are not up to the same high-tech standards as the Aussie V8s, but Radisich thinks the New Zealand versions are enjoyable to drive.
"I tested the car two weeks ago and the two are like chalk and cheese," said Radisich. "One is like driving a road car, even though it is highly modified compared to a completely changed and modified car.
"The New Zealand cars are more like a road-going version of the racing model. The competition is what's going to make the racing very good."
Other leading contenders are expected to include former New Zealand V8 champions Andy Booth and Paul Manuell, both sticking with Holden. Booth says he's taking the fight to the ridiculously large number of Fords accumulating in the championship.
Other regular top-runners are sure to include Angus Fogg, three-time champion Mark Pedersen and last year's fifth place-getter Clark Proctor.
The Kiwis will not have it all their own way, as there is plenty of competition from across the ditch. Australian Supercar V8 driver David Besnard is back from his second place at Bathurst with James Courtney, and Cameron McLean and Luke Youlden are expected to keep everyone honest.
V8 championship regulars returning for another season of action include Dean Perkins, Nick Ross, Andrew Fawcet, Michael Wallace, Adam Brook, Kevin Williams, Darryn Henderson, Haydn Mackenzie, Andrew Anderson, Julia Hizziff and Dale Lambert. And, with a season or three of experience now under their belts, Pukekohe's starting grid will also feature relative V8 newcomers like Inky Tulloch, Simon Richards, Cam Hardy, Tim Edgell, John Penny and Ian Spurle.
This season's rookies include Chris Adams and Dave Stewart stepping up from the First Windows & Doors NZV8 development series, last season's Mini champion Eddie Bell driving for the new Bartercard Racing Team, Connel McLaren swapping his Porsche GT3 for a Ford and former Super Truck champion Andrew Porter behind the wheel of a Ford V8 for the first time.
Twelve new Porsche GT3s have arrived in the country and will do battle in the Porsche championship. Two-time Toyota Racing Series winner Daniel Gaunt has moved to the Porches for this season, and last year's youngster Jono Lester is looking to prove 2006/07 was no flash in the pan.
The TRS appears to be struggling to get a full field for this season, although Mitch Cunningham joins regulars Andy Knight and Ben Hartford and Australian Nathan Antunes.
V8 CALENDAR
NOV 2-4 Pukekohe
NOV 23-25 Ruapuna
JAN 17-20 Taupo (also the A1GP round)
FEB 15-17 Manfeild
FEB 29-MAR 2 Timaru
MAR 7-9 Teretonga
APR 18-20 Hamilton (non-NZV8 championship round).
