Youlden Hoping For Troublefree Round

The Powerbuilt Racing Team contest Round 4 of the 2006/2007 NZV8s Championship at Manfeild Autocourse this weekend and driver Luke Youlden is keen to receive that ounce of luck that has

At each of the rounds to date Youlden and the Powerbuilt Falcon have demonstrated that they are right on the pace. One only has to check the qualifying times at each round to see that the Australian has set qualifying times good enough for 3rd, 2nd and 4th in his outings to date.

However each race weekend has had an element of ill fortune which has prevented the team from sealing the best possible overall result.

“Our luck has got to turn,” said Youlden from his home in Melbourne today. “I think our package is as good as anyone else out there,” he continued. “I think there are five of us - Johnny Mac (John McIntyre), Bezzie (fellow Australian David Besnard), Kayne Scott, Angus Fogg and ourselves where it is just a matter of whoever gets it right on the day will take out the round. We are on the money handling wise, and we are over our engine gremlins. We will be pushing hard and looking to finish at the front in all three races.”

Manfeild wasn’t the best round for the Powerbuilt Racing Team last season as the team struggled with handling issues but Youlden say’s, “we will be trying to avoid that and I think we will - we are 1000% better than last year.”

Youlden has recent mileage at the 3.03 kilometre Manfeild track in the Manawatu region, having raced there in the Powerbuilt Tools / Bed Rumours Handcrafted Beds Ford Mustang late last year. On that occasion Youlden was extremely quick and he adds, “I think Manfeild will probably suit us.”

Youlden has also confirmed he will be driving with a top ranking team in the 2007 Fujitsu Series in Australia this year. However while the opening round of that championship clashes with the upcoming Timaru round of the NZV8s Championship Youlden stresses he will be at the wheel of the Powerbuilt Falcon on this side of the Tasman that weekend.

The NZV8s will take part in testing at Manfeild this Friday, 16 February. Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning with a 12 lap race later that afternoon. Sunday morning features a 16 lap race with the traditional reverse grid event over 20 laps scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

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