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Friday, 21 September 2007 |
New Zealand A1GP driver Jonny Reid says he is in the zone after the final test session at Silverstone in preparation for Season 3 of the World Cup of Motorsport.
Reid was less than one hundredths of a second behind sizzling Indian Narain Kathikeyan, an ex-Formula 1 driver, on day two of the test as four drivers went under the A1GP lap record Reid set yesterday.
Further evidence of the increasing competitiveness among the nations was the fact that little more than a second separated India in the top spot and Mexico in 22nd.
Reid says the test results rammed home the belief that the season opener at Zandvoort in The Netherlands on Sunday-week will be a real challenge.
"It will be arguably the hardest race of the season for me because I haven't been racing over the winter, I don't know the circuit and each team is getting more competitive," Reid said.
"Rule changes for qualifying and adding a second pit stop to the Feature Race will also have a bearing on performance and we have to nail our pit stop strategy and be right on the button in execution.
"We did a bit of pit stop practice here at Silverstone and everyone worked together really well. It's been a very successful couple of days."
Reid's relief at the team's progress is palpable.
"I looked on myself, and my form, as the last piece of the puzzle in preparing for Zandvoort," Reid said. "It's all come together better than I could've hoped and I'm pleased to be in this position – setting fast times and gaining confidence on the eve of the first round."
Before Reid heads to The Netherlands he will detour to Edinburgh to catch the Rugby World Cup clash between the All Blacks and Scotland.
The 23-year-old saw his countrymen play Portugal in Lyon on the weekend – a rare event given their conflicting schedules in past years.
"I love my rugby, but I've always been racing offshore during the test season and the Portugal match was only the second All Black test I've ever been to," Reid said.
"I met Byron Kelleher when he came to see us race in Taupo earlier this year and it's nice to return the favour. I find the men in black inspiring and I'm fired up to be just as professional and dynamic when I'm representing my country."
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