by Russell Atkins
TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN FULL: CLICK HERE
Jonny Reid has insisted that New Zealand will be back and fighting fit to make it third time lucky in A1GP in 2008/09, after finishing as runner-up in the nation vs nation series for the second successive campaign in 2007/08.
Whilst at one point the Kiwi entry looked to be in pole position to wrap up the laurels, an off-colour late-season run and a sublime performance from Neel Jani in the Swiss machine saw New Zealand enter the final meeting at
Brands Hatch earlier this month fighting a rearguard action rather than bidding to steal the crown, with France and Great Britain pressing hard behind in the championship battle.
A disastrous qualifying session left Reid down in tenth and 17th positions respectively for the two races, and after finishing eighth in the first of them guaranteeing Switzerland the laurels the focus switched to preserving the runner-up spot in the title chase, what was looking like possibly a tall order given Robbie Kerr's front row grid slot.
As I've won races and taken pole positions before, I went to Brands with the intention of taking pole position and winning both races, the 24-year-old said, speaking exclusively to
Crash.net Radio. We didn't achieve that I don't think we had the car to achieve that and being my first time at Brands Hatch as well it was very challenging.
I learned a lot and was driving very hard in the end. I know the circuit very well now I think it's fantastic! I really love it.
There are a lot of mid-speed corners and blind crests you've got to have balls as well, so I like that. We just had a little bit too much oversteer, but other than that I really enjoyed my experience around Brands, and I'll be a much better driver around there the next time I come.
![Home favourite Jonny Reid celebrates securing pole position in qualifying for the sprint race of round five of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Taupo, New Zealand [pic credit: A1GP Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/403119.jpg)
