7/29/2019 2013 New Zealand Midget Car Title

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In the semi main we came from the

back row up to second place along

with setting quick time.

Photo Credit: Ned Dawson

The Christchurch Cathedral,

21/3/13

The day had finally come... we were

ready to take on the Southern dirt!!

The car was prepped, the team was

firing on all cylinders and I was

feeling great after the International

Series at Western Springs. We had

some new challenges to face as we

headed to Ruapuna Speedway,

Christchurch. My first time

competing outside the North Island

on a previously unseen track. Thiswas going to make things

interesting from the outset. But

anything worth having wasnt going

to come easy. It was game on!!

In the lead up to the New Zealand

title it was great to see that both the

speedway community and the

media had recognized the results

that the HLR Racing team drivers

had achieved over the Summer. A

real credit to Geoff Harper, Team

Principal, along with both Haydensand my crew. None of our results

could be delivered without our

team!!

After a road trip spanning across

several days we were welcomed

into the South Island by some

incredible weather. Something we

havent had in the North this

Summer. Once we arrived in

Christchurch with the car in tow I

managed to get out and visit the

three BNT branches in the city. It

was great meeting with all themanagers and their sales teams and

allowing them to get up close to the

car and chat about what we all have

in common... motorsport!!

That night we headed out to dinner

with some family friends who we

havent seen since the devastating

earthquakes. They offered to take us

for a drive through the city centre,

past the cathedral, CTV building site

and the rest of the red zone. I

could not put into words what I saw.Using the term like a ghost town

just didnt not even come close to

what you could feel. There was a

real sense of emptiness, pain,

heartache and sorrow. Two years on

from the actual event and everything

felt so empty.

The following day was the day was

it, qualifying for the New Zealand

title. Make or break. Do or die. Now

or never. It was game time.

ALASTAIR

Sunday News - NZ Nationwide

THE NZ MIDGET TITLERUAPUNA SPEEDWAY, CHRISTCHURCH

UPDATEWOOTTEN

7/29/2019 2013 New Zealand Midget Car Title

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THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES HAS COMEAND GONE SO WHERE TO NOW FOR THE

2013 SEASON...?

From the 26th of December until the 5th of January Western Springs Speedway was the host of

the POWRI International Midget Series. An event bringing

the worlds best midget racers head to head!!

After having an eventful

Christmas day, indulging in plenty of

good food and drink I had my whits

about the calm before the storm.

The POWRI International Midget

Series would kick off the following

day at Springs Speedway. After my

rookie season last year I knew I

would have the car and a little more

knowledge and understanding or

what I was getting myself in for.

The opening night of the

international series proved to be a

little challenging as the engine

problems we though we had got ontop of seemed to have come back

to haunt us. After qualifying a strong

16th place in the feature we were

unable to fire up the motor due to

no oil pressure... Not something any

team owner wants to hear of -

resulting in a DNF!

A couple of nights later on the

29th we headed back down to the

Springs with our fingers crossed

that we had sorted our problems.

After leading our first heat until the

last lap we were certain we were on

top of things. Coming home behind

Brad Mosen and Nathan Smee

(#1AUS) was nothing to be ashamed

of. Qualifying for the feature once

again meant we had a car to place

us in the top 15 for the feature. We

finished and the car was on song.Tick!

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sapien. Fusce urna magna,neque

eget lacus. Maecenas felis nunc

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Before we got to the track, we knew the eleven drivers

who we would face in our three heat races on the night.

The grids for race one were determined by marble

draw. Pulling grid eleven was thought to be an

advantage. On a fast track we thought we could make

good progress. As the night went on, the track would

loose grip, our grids would move us forward as the

passing opportunities were getting less. After

managing to pass three cars in heat one we came

home 8th. Still coming to grips with the track... We

were ok.

As we moved into the second heat with a little more

knowledge of the track as the surface dried out we

were ready to start moving forward. Dave, Dad, Scot

and Kent had made some changes to the car to tighten

it up a little more and give it some more grip for the fast

drying track. We took the green flag and held our own

for a handful of laps before being freight trained and

being forced wide by 3 cars. After this it was either win

it or bin in. I moved up track and started running thecushion around the high line of the track. The car has

never felt better. We were hooked up and had a fast car

however not able to gain those spots back.

Unfortunately it was too little too late. Once again

another 8th.

For the final heat we started off the front row with local

South Island Champ and South Island Grand Prix

winner Dave Kerr. After the first half of the race we were

holding our own in second place. Once again running

the high line was working for us but just not managing

to get gripped up off the turn. 4 x NZ ChampionMichael Pickens and another competitor sneaking by

resulting in a 4th place for us.

What this meant was that we were up for a long night

on Saturday night or a super short night. We were

having to take part in the B-Main event. A race where

the top 5 drivers transfer into the A-Main event for the

title crown. Once again, the race was a fast one. After

running 12 laps of total commitment I am proud to say I

have never driven that hard in all my life!! With

maintaining our starting position in 6th we set the

second fastest lap of the race. A true testament that my

team gave me a fast car and that we prove that we had

a great package. Unfortunately things just didnt work

out for me, finishing in 6th and first of the non

qualifiers.

We did manage to have one more race on Saturday

night. A non-qualifiers feature. After reversing the the

finishing order of the B-Main meant we were off the

back row. After six laps we came from the back row to

2nd. Unfortunately, the race was red flagged on lap 10

when we were challenging for the lead. For sure if the

race went the full distance it was all ours!

All in all, a huge learning weekend for me as a driver

and one which I wont forget. Getting more comfortable

running up against the cushion is sure to be a huge

help as we head home to Western Springs for the North

Island Champs for this coming weekend.

Also, a huge thanks you to all my South Island fans,

family and supports who managed to get to the track

and those of you who followed via:

www.facebook.com/alastairwoottenfans

www.twitter.com/alastairwootten

Instagram @alastairwootten

And a huge congratulations to now 5 x NZ Midget Car

Champion Michael Pickens!! So until next time,

Photo Credit:

Ned Dawson

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