Kris 'Killa' Walton, now a regular in the 2014 New Zealand V8 Ute Racing Series, is gunning for the Series title.

The Queenslander has taken out two of the first three rounds, and leads the series by 61 points, ahead of Kiwi driver Peter Ward. The Ford racer is hoping for an ANZAC weekend victory, when he takes to the track for the third round at Pukekohe 24 – 27 April.

“It wasn’t easy at the last round, the track likes the Holden’s better so we will have to work hard to make our car faster and get a good result. We initially got involved to try and sell some of Rod’s (Dawson) Utes but the extra laps have been great and now that Multispares have come on board for the year we are going to try and win the New Zealand Championship,” said Walton.

2010 Aussie V8 Ute Champion Chris Pither is the only driver to have won both the Australian and New Zealand Series in the same year and “Killa” is hoping to do the same.

“That’s definitely the aim, we want to win both, we’re on-track to do it at the moment, and it’s been done before and can be done again so we’ll have a go at it,” explained Walton.

The Rentco Racing driver claimed fifth overall in last year’s Australian Series, and is currently equal third with Teammate Wayne Wakefield. Walton also races alongside Ryan Hansford under the Peters Motorsport banner in the Australian Series, and is keen to take to the track for the Second Round at Barbagallo Raceway Perth next month (16 – 18 May).

“It’s been good having seat time in the New Zealand Series, it’s been a pretty big break between rounds for us in Australia so I’m looking forward to Perth,” said Walton.

Pukekohe is the fourth Round of the V8 Supercar Championship, with the New Zealand V8 Utes running as one of the key support categories.

Top three results for the New Zealand V8 Ute Series

1 Kris Walton Ford 2722 Peter Ward Holden 2113 Mike Lightfoot Ford 186

Top three drivers in the Australian V8 Ute Series1 David Sieders Ford 1312 Craig Dontas Holden 1143 Kris Walton Ford 1093 Wayne Wakefield Ford 109