Speedway: Wanganui Warriors coming out to play

Dion Mooney will lead the Warriors into battle in Palmerston North next weekend.

The Wanganui Warriors will be back at the ENZED Superstock Teams Championship in Palmerston North next week.

Wanganui Stockcar and Speedway Club president and Warriors manager Daryl James announced the team on Wednesday afternoon.

James said the team is thrilled to be back, after missing last year's event.

"The Superstock class is growing in Wanganui but a number of drivers were not yet ready for teams racing.

"That is why the WSSC has approached two experienced campaigners in [Chad] Ace and [Clint] Hill."

Captain Dion Mooney will be driving the 53V car, owned by WSSC Patron Bob Smith and raced this year by Morris Doyle.

Shaun Pearson will be driving the Superstock recently purchased by James from Levin driver Gary Trotter.

Scott McIntosh, Ace and Hill will all be campaigning their own cars.

All the Warriors drivers are expected to be in action at Supercheap Auto Oceanview Family Speedway this weekend, with action starting tonight for the Elite Mechanical and Engineering Cup, which is bringing a large field of stockcars to Whanganui.

In the press release on the team announcement, WSSC said the superstock class is in good heart, as Oceanview will host the New Zealand Superstocks in the 2019-20 season.

The Warriors also have a long history at the Palmerston North-hosted teams event, with the club determined to field a competitive team this season.

They made back-to-back grand final appearances in 2014-15, but lost to the Baypark Brawlers and Palmerston North Panthers respectively.

"A lot of work has gone in behind the scenes to put this team together" said James.

"We hope our many supporters will get behind the Warriors as they 'Fly the V' proudly in Palmerston North."

The team is:
Dion Mooney (captain), Scott McIntosh, Shaun Pearson, Chad Ace, Clint Hill, Francis Potaka (sixth driver).