After just two rounds of the NZ Truth V8s Championship Wellington driver Darryn Henderson has already endured two of the toughest rounds he has encountered since joining the series four seasons ago.
The opening round at Pukekohe earlier this month was a tough one which ended badly with an injured wrist after a crash while trying to avoid two cars that had spun across the track. Happy to put that experience behind him Henderson arrived at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch this weekend still nursing a swollen wrist but looking forward to better things.
Testing on Friday was a struggle for Darryn in the Radio Sport/Samsung Commodore as he tried to find grip and battled set-up issues plus an engine problem. Things were little better for qualifying the following day, a disappointment after the pace shown when things were going well at Pukekohe. Darryn’s time of 1 minute 32.579 seconds left him twenty-sixth on the grid for the first of the three races. However Henderson made a good start to that first race and had a good run through until the final corner of the opening lap. As the Radio Sport/Samsung Commodore exited the sweeper onto the front straight Henderson found the car of Australian Luke Youlden across the track and was left with nowhere to go. Henderson bounced into the tyre wall and was then hit by the Commodore of fellow Wellington driver Dave Stewart. Like Henderson, Stewart had found himself in a situation of having no grip and nowhere to go. Unfortunately after the second impact Henderson was pinned in the car and had to struggle to get out. He was then given a medical check but as the car was about to be lifted onto a rescue vehicle he realised it could still be driven.
Although a lap down Henderson drove around to complete the race and collect valuable points.
Sunday morning’s eighteen lap race presented Henderson with “no real dramas. ” From twenty-fifth on the grid it was a matter of perservering and driving through to finish. Henderson made up several places along the way bringing the Radio Sport/Samsung Commodore past the flag in eighteenth place, a very good gain.
Those results put Henderson eighth on the grid for Sunday afternoon’s reverse grid race. The Commodore was fitted with new tyres and brakes for the twenty-two lap journey and the team felt they were in with a good chance. Once again luck was not with the Wellingtonian as the traffic created a concertina effect into turn one on the opening lap. Henderson was caught in the melee and emerged with damage to the front of the car. From that point on it became difficult to see over the damaged bonnet. Henderson adopted a strategy of patience, keeping out of the way of the fast backmarkers coming through while trying to retain position. Later in the race Darryn was involved in two more incidents, coming into contact with both Haydn MacKenzie and Dale Lambert at different times. Darryn showed admirable honesty saying later, “it was my fault”. The second clash brought about his retirement from the race ending his second consecutive round of misfortune.
Summing up at the end of a torrid weekend, Darryn said, “it’s extremely hard work as a privateer against the “full timers” in this years championship. Three years of driving experience and a young team just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore. “
The next round of the NZ Truth V8s Championship takes place at the Taupo Motorsport Centre from 18-20 January next year. The event is part of the programme featuring the A1-GP World Cup Of Motorsport.
Support for Darryn Henderson’s NZ Truth V8s Championship campaign comes from Radio Sport, Samsung, Xtreme Forwarding, Hi Tech Commercial Interiors, Supaloo, HeliPro, Laserlite, Ricoh, Excel Digital, Demon Energy, Apparel Master, Global Signage, Williams and Adams HSV.
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