In an "incredibly gracious'' gesture, injured Southland racer Ian (Inky) Tulloch has committed his Camaro GT3 to contesting the North and South Island endurance titles, in the hands of his co-driver, John McIntyre, and a new recruit.
Beginning on Saturday, Nelson-based McIntyre and Hawkes Bay Porsche racer Simon Gilbertson will line up in Taupo for the first event of the three-round North Island series' three-hour endurance races.
Having won the three-hour New Zealand Endurance Race Championship in early March, with Tulloch and McIntyre driving, the Tulloch Motorsport team's future received a setback when, a week later, Tulloch suffered serious injuries following a racing accident in a different car. The former Gore District mayor has only recently left hospital and, while still recuperating, has asked the team to continue with its plans in his absence.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Tulloch's wife, Annette, said the decision to continue was not hard to make.
"Ian enjoys his racing and has a desire to fulfil his and the team's passion to win the North and South Island titles. His recovery following the accident in March will have him out of the car for some time so it was a simple decision to put a replacement driver in the car and run the team as it was planned,'' she said.
"As a family we are grateful for the support shown to us all following the accident and appreciate being in the position where Ian can enjoy the privilege of defending their [New Zealand Endurance Race Championship] title.''
McIntyre described it as "incredibly gracious'' of Tulloch to allow him and Gilbertson to drive the German-built 478kW, 7.9-litre V8 SaReNi Reiter Camaro GT3.
"The best part of going into the new season is Inky recovering well. Along with support from Annette and the Tulloch family to continue, we also have the full backing of the team. So it's a real honour to be again representing the team and we look forward to bringing home a few trophies to Inky,'' McIntyre said.
Gilbertson, who has been mentored by and raced with McIntyre in the past, drove the Camaro for the first time last weekend at Invercargill's Teretonga Park.
"Along with track time we've been through driver changeover and pit stop procedure - now we are prepared to get to the track and focus on winning the title, again,'' McIntyre said.
After Taupo the team will race again at Hampton Downs on June 25 and July 23 at Manfeild. McIntyre and Gilbertson will then compete in the three South Island endurance rounds, starting at Teretonga on September 10.
Also racing in the North Island series rounds will be Dunedin's Alyssa Clapperton, who will be driving a SsangYong ute in the three-hour category. She is sharing the drive with Christchurch's Murray Brook and Anthony Allen, of Auckland.
While it might not be as quick as the Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore Clapperton in which contested the 2015-16 NZ Touring Car Championship, the ute will provide ample seat time on the largely-unfamiliar North Island circuits, as she seeks to advance her motorsport career.
"Its not the quickest car but it is a good car to learn a track in. You have got to take every opportunity,'' Clapperton said.
She will contest an hour of each race and was "really looking forward to getting into it'', she said.
Clapperton hoped to contest the South Island endurance series again with her father, Ian.
