MONSTER TAJIMA PREPARES TO DO BATTLE AT 2004 SILVERSTONE RACE TO THE SKY
The countdown is on to the 2004 Silverstone Race to the Sky and reigning ‘King of the Mountain’ Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima is bracing himself for one of his toughest contests to date.
Tajima has won the title four times but is well aware that this year the competition will test him to the limit.
Swedish World Rally Championship ace Kenneth Eriksson competing in Possum Bourne’s WRC Subaru, Rod Millen in his fast Toyota Hi-Lux and Andrew Hawkeswood driving his new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 are all expected to put up a major challenge.
“It’s not going to be an easy job this year. Certainly with the likes of Kenneth Eriksson coming in and Rod Millen again it’s going to be quite tough,” says Tajima’s manager Paul Wilding.
Tajima is driving a Suzuki Sports Escudo and there have been some modifications to the 4WD special he drove last year.
“It has had a little bit of an exterior revamp and the image of the car has been redesigned. Last year’s car was based on the Suzuki Liana and this years is on the Escudo. The Escudo is a legendary car and a lot of people know about it.”
Last year Tajima slashed 23 seconds off the fastest time set in 1999 to record a top result of 8.10.02.
Paul says he would love to crack his new record.
“He hasn’t raced since last year’s Race to the Sky and I know he’s really looking forward to the event and to the competition this year. We’d really like to break into that seven minute barrier and we’re certainly trying our best to do that.”
New Zealand motor sport hero Greg Murphy will be a drawcard in his purpose built Holden Commodore Ute, and a number of other competitors including Marty Roestenburg returning from injury to compete in his Lancer Evo 3, Mike Turfus in his Lancer Evo 6 and Australian Brett Hayward driving his Suzuki special, will be highly competitive.
Highly ranked Ian Ffitch on his quad bike will be out to compete with the top runners and personalities such as Mike Shackleton and Rocket Ron will also be in the spotlight.
The 2004 Silverstone Race to the Sky is dedicated to Possum Bourne who died tragically following a road accident on the Snow Farm Road a year ago.
DONG FENG RETURNS WITH SUPER TUCK TO SILVERSTONE RACE TO THE SKY
Chinese truck manufacturer Dong Feng will be back this weekend with a Super Truck to compete at the Silverstone Race to the Sky with high profile New Zealand rally driver Andrew Hawkeswood behind the wheel.
Dong Feng made a successful debut at the Race to the Sky last year. The Super Truck has been fitted with a powerful 6ltr Petrol V 8 coupled to an Auto transmission. Special race tyres have been built by Silverstone Competition Tyres to handle the Snow Farm Road and provide more performance.
Silverstone Motorsport Manager Russell Palmer says the key will be their high performance tyres. “The information that we have received from last year’s event and our involvement in world motorsport has helped us to design and construct a better performing tyre. Racing up a hill is about horsepower but tyres can also be a huge advantage.”
“This truck will fly,” he says. ”We will not have the outright pace of the specially built vehicles but for a 6ltr capacity truck it will be the vehicle to watch.”
Russell says having Andrew Hawkeswood as driver is a coup for Dong Feng.
“Andrew will have his hands full as he will also be driving his own hand-built space frame special 4 wheel drive turbo ‘Rocket.’ Having the extra runs up the hill will also help Andrew over the many corners of this challenging Silverstone Race to the Sky 2004
