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Kiwis vying for JR Trophy

27 Apr 2014
But they will need to muscle the lead from Winterbottom.
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Hometown heroes of the Auckland ITM 500 Shane van Gisbergen, Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin are hungry to maintain a Kiwi grip on the coveted Jason Richards trophy at New Zealand’s biggest motorsport event.  

The New Zealand drivers are hoping to improve their current round point standings in today’s deciding race to ensure the trophy, dedicated to their fellow Kiwi and late great driver Jason Richards, stays in its rightful home.  

Volvo Valvoline driver McLaughlin cemented his contention ahead of the 200km race by scoring ARMOR ALL Pole Position for the weekend’s final race.

The fourth and longest race of the weekend offers 150 points for the win, with the 20-year-old Volvo star currently sitting 26 points adrift of leader Mark Winterbottom.

With the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy in sight, McLaughlin said he felt extra pressure to have his #33 entry at the front of the pack and make the Kiwi crowd proud.

“When I’m doing well at home it makes it even more special because the Kiwis can share it with me,” he said. 

“Back in the day I never thought I’d get this far, but to be on pole here at Pukekohe where I grew up watching V8 Supercars is something I’ll never forget and something that will always be very special to me.

“To hold the JR trophy up in front of New Zealand at the end of the day, even if it’s Fabs or Shane – as long as it’s a Kiwi – would mean a lot.” 

Richards’ former team Brad Jones Racing clinched the prize last season in what was an emotional victory with Bright piloting the #8 BOC Commodore, as Richards had.

“The right team won it last year with Jason Bright is Jason’s [Richards] old car,” van Gisbergen, who will start from third, told v8supercars.com.au.

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“But for myself or another Kiwi to try and keep the trophy this year would be awesome.” 

Over the course of the round the New Zealand spectators have come out in full force for their three drivers, hoping one of the countrymen can take out the title at their biggest motorsport event and the only V8 Supercars round across the Ditch. 

Auckland native Coulthard said having the crowd’s backing when racing on home soil was a huge motivator in his contention for the JR trophy. 

“This is the only time we get to go to our home track and it’s awesome for us because we get massive support,” he said. 

“In Australia we go here, there and everywhere and it’s always supporting the other guys, so it’s nice to come back.

“It’s even the simple things like walking in the gate and people saying good luck, they really get behind us and it’s nice.” 

Winterbottom leads the contest for the JR Trophy, with James Courtney, van Gisbergen and McLaughlin second to fourth and separated by just one point each.  

Coulthard currently sits 11th in the standings for the round and will start from 14th. 

Stay tuned for the race at 3.25pm local time.

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