Dunn to make NZ V8 Ute racing debut

Versatile Timaru race driver Chris Dunn will make his V8 Ute racing series debut at the final two rounds of the Enzed V8 Ute racing series at Ruapuna and Levels in March.

Dunn will drive the Falcon XR8 Ute campaigned in the North Island by Bob Grove. “Bob was unable to make the two south island rounds, so we managed to put a deal together to do our ‘home’ events with his Ute” said Dunn.

Although Dunn has never raced a Ute previously, he has driven many types of racing machinery from go-karts & Mini7’s through to the monsterous Super Trucks and most types of cars in between. However the only V8 he has previously raced was when he partnered John Bowe to a podium finish at Bathurst in a brand new Ford Mustang Cobra RA “I am used to driving high horsepower turbo cars, so the V8 Ute will be very different in that respect, however I quickly come to grips with the Mustang at Bathurst, so at least this time I don’t have a track to learn as well” he quipped. Dunn has only done a handful of laps in the Ute prior to taking delivery of it “we went to the new Hampton Downs circuit 2 weeks ago to help Bob run it, and to get an idea of how the Ute racing works & I was lucky enough to be able to drive the hotlaps session on the new track.”

However, Dunn hopes to be able to get some testing miles in the Ute under his belt before Ruapuna “As I will be running it on less than a shoestring budget, I only have old 2nd hand tyres & I will need to conserve these so I have something to race on” he said. Dunn was pleased to get assistance from Timaru businesses Total Automotive Timaru, Autoglass Timaru and Cheapies cars under $4000 to lease the Ute “now I just need a budget to run the thing” he remarked.

He has realistic goals for his debut at Ruapuna and is hoping to run in the front 6 Utes. “No-one seems to have the pace to match the two professional drivers of Chris Pither & Caine Lobb, but if we can be somewhere near the front of the next bunch we will be happy.” “I am not expecting miracles, most other teams have at least a seasons experience in Utes, and the budget to bolt on new tyres whereas I will be running old used tyres that Bob has discarded.”

Meantime Dunn and the Total Automotive Race team are nearly completion of their own race car. A turbo Hayabusa powered Toyota MR-S which will be used for OSCA racing & sprints and hopefully be developed into an Endurance weapon.

Dunn’s first race in the Ute will be at Ruapuna Raceway in Christchurch on 20/21 March 2010.