THUNDER IN THE PARK: McCALL CONFIRMS FOR RALLYCROSS

Tony McCall’s bellowing BSL Chev V8 single-seater is the headline offroad racing entry for next weekend’s inaugural Baypark rallycross event in Tauranga.

The Manukau racer, who has won every major title in the sport over a career that spans three decades, says he is treating the event as an eye-opener for the coming national championship season and will be looking to bring his ‘A-game’ to Mount Maunganui’s Baypark stadium on Saturday February 27.

McCall’s purpose-built 600bhp ENZED-backed race car has received a comprehensive rebuild and upgrade for the coming season.

“The engine is good, the suspension is sorted and we’ve got a consignment of new tyres to shred. It’s going to be epic,” he said.

The Teng Tools New Zealand International Rallycross will be staged at Mt Maunganui's Baypark stadium on February 27-28. It will use a purpose-built track combining parts of the clay surface speedway oval and stadium infield with the concrete and tarmac surfaces of the speedway pit area.

Grids of six cars will compete in quick-fire heat races and semi-finals leading to eight-car class finals.

The event is a mixture of rally, Honda Cup and 2K Cup cars complying with Motorsport NZ regulations and the spectacular trucks and buggies and giant-killing side-by-side UTV racers that race under Offroad Racing Association rules.

Organisers are building bigger jumps for the offroad racers after feedback that the jumps set up for the cars were simply too small.

The event starts with practice from 3pm on Saturday February 27. Qualifying heats run under floodlights from 8-10pm. Sunday's action starts at noon with more heat races followed by semi-final eliminations. The finals, decided on points over three races per class, are set for 5.15pm.

The top offroad drivers confirmed so far include McCall, Ben Thomasen (Polaris RZR Turbo), Malcolm Langley (Bakersfield Mitsubishi Evo turbo), and Gary Baker who is moving across from the truck class into a class one single-seater race car with Leyland P76 power.