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New Zealand A1GP motor racing driver Jonny Reid is confident he will be a force in the upcoming season despite not racing competitively since April.
Reid will be back in Black Beauty on Tuesday night NZ time for A1GP's first official testing session ahead of season three in the World Cup of Motorsport.
To be held over two days at Silverstone in Northampton, with another two day hit-out to follow in three weeks' time, the testing sessions are important precursors to the season opener at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on 30 September.
"Because I've had a bit of a break, day one will shake off the cobwebs," Reid said.
"But driving for me is like riding a bike and I'm sure it will all come together on day two."
The 23-year-old drove Formula Nippon in 2005 and 2006, a series which had him battle ready for the first two seasons of A1GP. Without that competitive racing Reid has been striving to simulate race conditions in the gym and on the physio table.
"I've been training with Dave Woodbridge, who works with the Blues rugby team, and he's been excellent with strengthening the areas of my body that take a hammering in the car. My neck has been a focus, as well as back and core conditioning.
"I felt fit enough last year, but already I feel I've gone to another level. I'm definitely stronger and don't feel disadvantaged in not having clocked up the laps. I've had time to freshen up and I'm full of energy and ready to go.
"Sure, last year I was a lot more race hardened heading into the season, but I still have time to spend in the car and plenty of time to prepare mentally. The relationship with the engineering team and pit crew is already there and I'm sure we'll slip back into working mode quickly."
Reid's short term goal at Silverstone is simply to get progressively quicker as he reacquaints himself with head of engineering David Sears and his team at Super Nova International Racing.
"We'll be testing for race pace and qualifying pace, but the first job will be to get everything back in working order and have everyone focused on A1GP following commitments to other series like GP2 and Formula Renault.
"You need to take advantage of every second you have in testing because we're heading into season three with the same tyres, chassis and engine, so everyone's up to speed with what makes their A1GP cars tick and how to get one hundred per cent out of them.
"On race weekends it will come down to qualifying and pit strategy, so any advantage you can glean now is crucial. And it's important to recognise that the top performers at last year's testing sessions went on to do well in the championship, so it's definitely important to be among the pace-setters."
Last year at the Silverstone testing German teenager Nico Hülkenberg burst onto the A1GP stage by dominating the last stanzas of the testing session, foreshadowing a stellar season where he propelled Germany to the title.
He has not been named to test this week, but Reid would be delighted to see him on the grid at Zandvoort in just over a month.
"I hope he's back when the season gets underway. There's a good rivalry there already and that will only grow if we have another season of trying to out-do each other."
The teenager on Reid's mind at the moment is 17-year-old Brendon Hartley, who has been released by the Red Bull Junior Race Team to share some testing time in Black Beauty.
Hartley is leading the EuropCup Formula Renault championship, but had his first taste of Formula 3 earlier this month when stepping up to replace GP2-bound Sebastian Buemi at the Masters of Formula 3.
Hartley placed a superb 4th in his Formula 3 debut (a race won, incidentally, by Hülkenberg) and Reid is certain the Palmerston North native will relish his first A1GP experience.
"I met him back in 2003 when he was 12 or 13 and you could tell he was going to be a class act," Reid said. "I'm glad he'll be with us at Silverstone because with Matt (Halliday) chasing his Champ Car dream, we need younger talented guys coming through…and he definitely fits the criteria.
"I hope he learns a lot and I know he'll enjoy the experience. Putting on the black suit with the silver fern and hopping in that all-black beauty will always be a buzz for patriotic Kiwis."
A1GP Official pre-season testing schedule (local times):
Silverstone, Northampton, Great Britain
Tuesday 28 August
A1GP Official Testing Session one 09.00 to 12.30
A1GP Official Testing Session two 14.30 to 17.00
Wednesday 29 August
A1GP Official Testing Session three 09.00 to 12.30
A1GP Official Testing Session four 14.30 to 17.00
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