Christchurch driver Justin Ashwell has taken the covers off his new look class two Ford Falcon ahead of a full season campaign in the BNT NZ Touring Car Championship.
Ashwell will campaign his Ford Falcon with major backing from Digga New Zealand.
Digga are the leading manufacturer of planetary drive boring and trenching attachments. In New Zealand they have outlets in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill.
“I’m thrilled to have DIGGA onboard as my major sponsor for the 2017/18 BNT NZ Touring Car Championship season. I’m very excited to promote their brand and to work alongside them this coming season,” says Ashwell.
Relatively new to the championship, Ashwell competed in the two South Island rounds last season, and with some good results scored on his debut, he’s excited to compete in all six rounds in 2017/18.
“Our only expectation is to finish each race and round as its comes, and learn more as we go.”
“The two rounds I competed in last year did help us learn about the car and how it handles. We have made a number of upgrades so that will throw it out the window a bit. The engine wasn’t 100 percent but we’ve taken steps to rectify that with our engine builder.”
Ashwell says he has limited experience at the majority of North Island circuits but hopes to adapt quickly.
“I have limited racing experience at the North Island tracks. About 30 laps at Pukekohe, less at Taupo and none at Hampton Downs. Hopefully the team and I can get a handle on them quickly.”
Relatively new to motorsport, Ashwell only stared racing five years ago and has been dabbling in some racing in Australia.
“I joined NZ SIX back in 2012 and from 2014 I’ve won the last 3 Championships in both classes, this is what helped make my decision to move to NZV8.”
“Recently I was invited to drive the QueAccess BMW at the Queensland 300. This was great. They have invited me back to drive at the Lakeside 300 in late September so I’m looking forward to that.”
Round one of the BNT NZ Touring Car Championship gets underway at Pukekohe November 3-5.