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Anderson ends the season on a positive note

Rolling out to the first test session with a proven setup from last year, Andrew was confident of regaining the traditional top ten form of the ITM Commodore.  Whilst the car still needed a little more balance, Andrew was pleased to be seventh fastest and first Holden.

The team put new brakes on for the second test session and Andrew set off to bed them in.  Completing his first flying lap, the car jolted under brakes, stepped out and suddenly he was overtaken by his left rear wheel.  Running down the escape road at turn one, Andrew’s session was over as the wheel studs had shorn off.

With light drizzle falling before qualifying, the team opted to bolt on green slick tyres.  Jumping a second a lap, Andrew was inside the top ten.  Pitting mid session, the team monitored the times and although going back out, Andrew was unable to improve his time and was in 7^th to make it through to his first top ten shootout this season.

The team reset the tyres and gave the car a little more turn in for the top ten shootout.  With cold rears, the car stepped out at turn 1 and had a near encounter with the wall.  Pushing on, the rear grip was down and having taken some kerbs too aggressively, Andrew cost himself some time and qualified in 9^th place.

With the Hamilton weather being a bit of a lottery, the drivers were given the option of choosing either wet or slicks for race 1.  Having to start from grid 22 due to an engine change after Taupo, Andrew elected to run slicks on what was going to be a drying track.

Following the two warm up laps, the race started and a faint dry line was forming.  Getting a good start, Andrew progressed into the bunch on the opening laps.  With the slicks up to temperature from the second lap, Andrew was able to pick off cars as he was getting better drive.

Mid race Andrew straight lined the turn three roundabout to avoid a spinning Simon Richards. A safety car period ensued which caused the tyres to cool.  Andrew finished the race in 8^th place – 14 spots up from where he started.

With a cold damp track and some sunshine for race 2, tyre selection was again a strategic selection.  Opting for slicks again, Andrew got a great start to be in the top 5 on the opening lap.  With the track drying and the slicks coming up to temperature, Andrew was able to make a charge on the leaders.  The ITM Commodore was handling well and with each lap it was a case of pushing the grip level as the dry line increased.  With the leaders in sight, Andrew was able to hold ground to cross the line in fifth.

Race 3 saw drizzle falling during the warm up laps.  Again opting to go out on slicks, Andrew lost some positions on the opening laps as the tyres took time to get up to temperature.  Pressing on to make his way forward through the field, he took the chicane a bit too aggressively, tapped the tyre bundle and the front steering broke.  Andrew then made heavy contact with the wall and had to be brought back to the pits on the back of a tow truck.

“Street circuits are a game of millimetres.  In this case, the motorsport gods were not working in our favour.”

Andrew finished the round in tenth equal and was 12^th for the 2010/11 championship.

At the NZV8 prizegiving on Sunday evening, the ITM Racing team won the Best Presented Holden award – our second in three seasons.

“I would like to thank all our team partners for their support over the season.  The team worked hard to finish the race season on a high but unfortunately things do not always go to plan.  I am indebted to the support from Steve and the team at Moselle Panel and Paint – without them we would not have won our second Best Presented Holden award” commented Andrew.

The ITM Racing team would like to thank our team partners for their support over the 2010/11 season: ITM Building Centres, Marley, E-Frame, Sika, Hitachi Power Tools, Wattyl, Haydn Brush Company, Valvoline, Pink Batts, GIB, New Balance, Computer Leasing NZ, Moselle Panel and Paint, PPG, Pinepac Group, West City Holden, Davy Tyre Services, Cottle Motors, Kincrome and Subway.

Go to the Pinepac Group website >>

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