What the team have been up to

During the first week of the 2010 New Year members of the Triple X Motorsport team have been doing a variety of activities in the build-up to the race weekend at Teretonga mid-January.

Craig Baird: Following his announcement of being included in the 2010 New Year honours list, Craig has been on holiday in New Zealand with his family – including a stint camping. Never far from a steering wheel, his bug for racing at speedway in the weekend fell short when he was unable to secure the necessary licence. Now his focus is joining the team for the two-in-two races – with family in tow.

Dan Gaunt: Trying for time-out building up to his gigantic year to be, Dan admits to thinking slightly about his V8 Supercar season ahead of maintaining his podium position in the New Zealand Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge standings. As chauffeur in bringing one of the four Triple X Motorsport transport vehicles to the South Island, he is part of the crew travelling Auckland to Invercargill and return. Via Queenstown of course.

David Reynolds: Returning to Melbourne after a few days with family, David has been rather serious. Repeated and long bike rides are David’s claim to Tour de France training ahead of his New Zealand visit where he’s planning on leap-frogging competition in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge to help the team to another one-two-three.

Courtney Letica: A very busy time recuperating following the late November accident at Ruapuna, Courtney has been on light work duties followed by plenty of physio – allowing for a full doctors clearance to resume racing.

Shane McKillen and Michael Morton: Have both been on Waiheke Island for the past week with their respective family groups enjoying boating, fishing and catch-up time with people they don’t get to see during their hectic schedules.

Todd, Lance, Adam: Met in Palmerston North just after New Year to spend a couple days at the Bamber’s Wanganui Safari Park helping out with their animal management – whilst getting to know the family behind the team’s Toyota driver: Earl. Whilst there were some occasions where scenes of ‘Rambo’ were re-enacted, it was a very productive time for all before a change of clothes and resumption of the journey south.

Ian: Like Dan, his adopted and potentially biological son, Ian has been taking a little time-out from a year that ended with three Toyota Racing Series cars being added to his management plan. Joining the convoy south, he intends laying low as part of a strategy to unveil what the race weekend strategy will be.

Timo: Following a New Year holiday in Whangamata with his children, Timo has been nose to the grindstone (linishing belt actually), before locking his car preparation workshop and joining the team for the two-week South Island trip.

Mark: Our Harry has been a little sneaky, arriving in to Queenstown a little earlier than the rest of the team he’s been making himself conspicuous by his absence. A fancy explanation for being on holiday, he has been spying on competition to his mountain bike park, enjoying the wannabe talent at work.

Gareth and Peter: Have both been good little boys and kept South Canterbury Toyota in full swing by maintaining their presence during the holiday season. The good news is they get time off for good behaviour to join the team for the two weekends of racing.

Adrian: Last and never least, Cosmo has been MIA in Adelaide - something to do with the extreme heat.