nzherald.co.nz's motoring editor Matt Greenop and video producer Steve Orsborne will be covering the A1 GP from Taupo throughout the weekend.
KEY POINTS:
Jonny Reid expects at least seven of the 22 A1GP teams racing at Taupo this weekend to be serious contenders for victory.
He mentions the table-topping Swiss, who are on 79 points and 20 ahead of third-placed New Zealand, plus France who are just one up, "and you can't count out Brazil (48), South Africa (47), the Netherlands (41) or Germany (37) - they could all win it. Both the cars and the drivers are even closer this year".
Of New Zealand's prospects, he says: "We need to win both races [sprint and feature] and that's my target. I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch but I'm confident in the team around me and in the car. Coming into Taupo last year we weren't in the top six so it's very pleasing for us as a team to improve like that."
Personally, he has taken confidence from being appointed driver for the 10-race season rather than contesting for the drive seat. "It tells me the team believes in me. But even more it's given me consistency and the opportunity to continue improving."
Reid has had a good holiday, back home with family in Auckland two days after the last race of 2007 in Shanghai on December 16.
He headed to Taupo yesterday for his first look at the remodelled track and couldn't wait to see that set-up and also the set-up of Black Beauty, the team mechanics and engineers adjusting for the tighter Taupo circuit after the longer runs of Zhuhai in China.
He had some input into the change made to the corner coming into the straight and believes it will be positive. "Cars are going to be braking harder and sooner but it's going to be in a straight line. It will give more chances for passing."
Reid has no preference between the 19 minutes plus one lap of the sprint or the 69 minutes plus one lap feature race.
"With the sprint it's get around quickly and in one piece. In the feature there is strategy to consider, managing the car and tyre wear and maintaining a good average lap time plus knowing when you have to put in a quick lap."
There are 15 points on offer for first, 12 for second, 10 for third and eight for fourth then six, five, four, three, two and one for the top-10 finishers, so Reid could push Black Beauty to second and possibly first with good results at Taupo, the halfway mark in the 2007-08 season.
After achieving just one top-10 finish and only two points from five events so far Australia have dropped driver Ian Dyk for their rookie John Martin, 23, who showed typical Aussie mouth by saying nothing other than wins was acceptable.
Canada have switched to their rookie Robert Wickens, 18. Brazil have confirmed Sergio Jiminez as driver for Taupo after his good performances in the first five rounds.
Taupo Motor Park manager Dave Steele urged fans to "black it out for Jonny" at the weekend.
