Booth shifts focus to 2014 after challenging season

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2 December 2013

Booth shifts focus to 2014 after challenging season

Andy Booth and Shae Davies, Woodstock Racing’s driver pairing, were victims of another frustrating weekend of motor racing after minor problems and bad luck plagued the team during the last round of the BNT V8SuperTourer Endurance series at Pukekohe over the weekend.

Booth, of Birkenhead, said this weekend’s result was indicative of the entire season for the Woodstock Racing team but he remains optimistic after bursts of speed throughout the season and vows to return in 2014.

Booth says: “It was an incredibly frustrating weekend. We just didn’t get the car setup right and that cost us a solid result this weekend. Pukekohe is one of my favourite tracks to race on so I was hopeful of a good result here, especially with the competitive times Shae [Davies] and I have been setting recently.”

The first 35 lap race of the weekend on Saturday saw the pair hold their start position of ninth throughout the race, despite battling grip issues through low speed corners in the Woodstock Racing Commodore.

“The car was fantastic in the high speed sections but we were struggling with grip levels in the slower sections. The crew made a few changes overnight and it was a lot better for races two and three on Sunday,” explained Booth.

But the first 70 lap race on Sunday was not without further bad luck for the Woodstock Racing team. Booth was forced to take evasive action and park at an odd angle while entering the Woodstock Pit when another car was released early during the rush, leaving co-driver Davies, of Gold Coast Queensland, in a tricky position.

“The incident in pit lane may not have cost us a position but it certainly cost us time. Shae couldn’t get around the car in front, so had to reverse to get out, but he did a great job recovering from that,” said Booth.

Davies was competing at Pukekohe for the first time in his career and said the longer endurance races were an added challenge during his first season in New Zealand.

“I have never raced for that long before so it’s tough to adjust. But it’s a nice high speed track and what everyone says about it [Pukekohe] is justified,” said Davies.

The Woodstock Racing crew then fitted four brand new tyres and made further adjustments to the Woodstock Racing Commodore for the final 70 lap race on Sunday afternoon, electing Davies to start the race.

Davies said: “I was happy with my start in race three and the car was pretty good. We had a tough pit stop as we struggled to get Andy’s belts on, but unfortunately that’s quite common.”

But during the latter part of the final race, Booth again found the car had no grip and was wheel spinning in first, second, third and fourth gears.

“We initially thought it was a tyre problem but it turns out there was some oil on the rear tyres. We didn’t know until the end of the race but that explains why the car was difficult to handle,” said Booth.

“But overall, I’ve enjoyed this season despite the low points. The highlight was having Shae [Davies] join us for the endurance races. It has been great to work with him and his family and he is a real talent behind the wheel. A few people were surprised we were bringing him on board this year but he has been amazing, hasn’t made any mistakes and has been right on the pace on track’s he’s never seen in his life. We would love to have him back.”

Davies echoes Booth’s sentiments and says: “I’ve really enjoyed racing here and I’ll definitely be back next year, if I can. I’ll be racing in the Australian Carerra Cup Championship next year but none of those dates clash with the SuperTourers so that’s a huge bonus!”

And with only seven weeks until the first round of the 2014 season, Booth says it is time to “have a few Woodstock’s and think about next year.”

“It has been a tough year for us but we’ve had a few reassurances like the win in Taupo to go forward with. We really appreciate all of the support we’ve had during 2013, especially from our sponsors who we simply wouldn’t be here without. We’ll be back bigger and better next year.”

Booth is supported by: Woodstock Bourbon and Cola, Wynn's, SG Fleet, Advanced Transactions, Toptul, Tectaloy Performance Coolants, Precision Autowerk, Image Centre Group, Central Towing and New Balance.

Follow Woodstock Racing via Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/andyboothracing

ENDS.

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