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This website is now dedicated to covering the Black Bullets. Current Black Bullets news is now provided on iSportz » with past news archived here for your continued reference.
Triple X Motorsport driver Daniel Gaunt (Auckland) will drive in New Zealand's 2009 Grand Prix race being held at Manfeild later this month (27 Feb – 1 March).
One of only two Grand Prix race events in the world that aren't contested by the Formula One series, Gaunt's entry returns the 23-year old driver to the open-wheel Toyota Racing Series he's won twice before – in succession.
With his name on the Grand Prix title once before, Gaunt says the 100km race around the 3.03km Manfeild circuit on the outskirts of Manawatu's Feilding township is a coveted title won by many of the world's notable racing drivers:
"The Grand Prix is New Zealand's most prestigious trophy – basically it's the one everyone wants to win. It has the most history and one of the hardest races I've ever done before."
Driving a Toyota Tatuus TT104ZZ, he will be supported by VnC Cocktails and the Mad Butcher, intent on winning the title for the team.
 "It was a group decision; I'm really keen to give it a crack for Triple X Motorsport.
Obviously we've had some success in that series before – it's going to be tough doing both categories on the same weekend but we've got a bit of a plan to get around that," described Gaunt, will also drive the Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997, currently holding third position in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge series.
"I am grateful for the support of Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails) and Michael Morton as well (The Mad Butcher). Michael has been driving the whole idea and is keen to get the Grand Prix for the team."
Under no illusions as to the challenge of getting fresh in to a car he hasn't raced for over a season, Gaunt says past experience will be his key to success: "Most of the drivers have done 15-16 days in the Toyota over the last few months so they are going to be sharp. I'd like to think after practise on the Thursday and Friday we'll be just as sharp. In a one-make series you're never going to walk away with it but I'd like to think we'll be on the money and have as good as shot as anyone at the Grand Prix."
It will also be the second biofuel run Grand Prix event, with the car run on E85 blend ethanol following its introduction last season.
The race weekend format starts with two test sessions on the Friday (27 Feb) and a two-heat qualifying session on the Saturday morning before a top-ten shootout and 20 lap Dan Higgins Memorial Trophy race in the afternoon.
Sunday continues with a ten-lap race in the morning building up to a 4:50pm start to the 35-lap New Zealand Grand Prix.
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The views, opinions and content displayed on this webpage are not necessarily those of Pacific Motorsport Limited. Pacific Motorsport Limited takes no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.
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