Michael Bristow FPR test preview

BRISTOW HEADS TO AUSTRALIA FOR V8 SUPERCAR TEST

Already making an impact on the New Zealand V8 scene, young 21 year old rookie Michael Bristow is heading to Australia for a V8 Supercar test early in 2009 with a view to achieving the same across the Tasman.

Bristow will test with Ford Performance Racing (FPR) Team Blue, one of three teams that FPR will field in next year's V8 Supercar championship. Team Blue's driver for next season is Andrew Thompson.

Plucked out of the V8 Development series last year by Richards Team Motorsport, Bristow drove the final two rounds of the 2007/08 NZV8 series at Timaru and Invercargill (as well as finishing and winning the V8 Development Series), also competing in the Hamilton 400.

This season he has already shown remarkable consistency placing sixth in both rounds of this year's BNT V8s championship and is currently seventh overall.

A key for Bristow moving forward is his major sponsor for the BNT V8s championship. TEX Onsite, a market leader in the High Voltage Testing and Instrument Calibration industry in Australia, NZ and the USA, will become a gold sponsor of a V8 Supercar team in the 2009 championship and see Bristow as a key driver in their plans for the future.

Currently working at Tracksport Engines in Pukekohe, Bristow also spends much of his spare time lapping his home track, Pukekohe either as a Holden Hot Lap driver or in his own V8 Development winning car in order to stay race fit.

"It's a childhood dream come true" comments Bristow, "and it's happened in the last couple of weeks and it's only just starting to sink in."

So what does he expect? "At this stage I don't know what to expect, but I'll be fully prepared when I climb into the driver's seat."

Key sponsor's NZ general manager Ross Gamble says, "TEX Onsite Ltd is excited to be able to offer Michael the opportunity to further his driving career in the V8 Supercar series. Although the Australian series is another level of racing in comparison to the NZ V8 series, Michael is seen as having the talent to achieve, and with our Australian connection we are able to offer this opportunity for another Kiwi driver."

But first Bristow must step into his NZV8 Ford for the next round at the Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway this weekend where he hopes to continue the impact that he is already made on the local scene.

-credit: fpr