After totalling his Britek Motorsport Fujitsu Falcon at last months Barbagallo event, Jason Bright is taking loan of a BF Falcon from fellow Ford operation, Team BOC. Bright was reportedly able to drive the car one second faster than either of the two BOC drivers at recent testing, so perhaps this weekend’s race at Pukekohe shows promise for the team owner/driver.
The Track
Pukekohe Park Raceway is a fast, sweeping circuit, encompassing a seven turn configuration into a challenging mix of long straights, with a set of esses and one high braking hairpin. Despite this, passing opportunities are minimal. A well handling car may be able to pass at turns two and three, but the final sequence of turns from the hairpin and onto the straight are the best places to execute a move.
Tyre management is pivotal to a successful race, with the bumpy surface able to easily upset a car with little grip.
The Winner
Given previous form this year, and Holden’s track record at Pukekohe Park, it is most likely that the three-time New Zealand round winners, the Toll HSV Dealer Team, will take out this weekend’s round. The Toll Commodores are currently in a class of their own, totally dominating the opening two rounds and both Garth Tander and Rick Kelly are capable and experienced enough to win this weekend’s event.
The Holden Racing Team are at longer odds to win, yet the odds are still good. Mark Skaife won this event last year, and Todd Kelly has been on song again early in the season. Car reliability is the major factor limiting the HRT Commodores, having plagued Skaife and Kelly throughout 2006 and at last month’s Barbagallo event.
![Mark Skaife - HRT Holden Commodore [pic credit: HRT media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/300771.jpg)
