Butcher's back for Hawkeyes title quest
Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes superstock team driver Quintin Butcher is eager to make up for lost race time at the most prestigious event on the Speedway New Zealand calendar this weekend.
Two weeks out from last year's ENZED Teams Champs in Palmerston North Butcher (pictured above, Photos Le Pro Photography) got knocked out at the Invitation 240s in Rotorua and was replaced in the team.
"The boys still made me feel part of the team. But you always want your car out on the track. I definitely want to make up for that disappointment this time," Butcher said.
A member of the squad since 2012 he has only missed one Palmerston North expedition since then. Butcher, 37, has had 60 starts for the team, 20 of them in Palmy.
"I've experienced the highs and lows. I was in the winning teams in 2016 and '17 and I remember the early days when we would just scrape a team together and go and get damaged," Butcher explained.
"If we don't finish on the podium this year it would be a surprise. We're not going there to take part ... we're going there to win. Our depth is pretty huge," Butcher said.
"Our mentality hasn't changed from recent years. We're all prepared to put our gear on the line."
The 2017 Hawke's Bay champion for the class, Butcher, has been a team sponsor, through his Hastings-based HRPP business, since he was first selected. He also painted the bodies for the team's cars for six year. Considering what he has put into the team during the last 10 years he deserves another taste of title glory.
He also knows he won't have too many years left in the superstock ranks.
"My oldest son Deegan is in his last year in the ministock class and will be keen to take over my car when he leaves that class," Butcher added.
Hawkeyes manager-driver Mike McLachlan was a happy man after his team drew the Manawatu Mustangs and Auckland Allstars for their first races on Saturday night.
"The teams are all pretty even so I was going to be happy no matter who we got. The boys have had a couple of good races against the Wellington Wildcats and they have all been on the pace in their individual events."
McLachlan is thrilled to have Butcher who he described "as an old seasoned campaigner" available again.
He is confident his troops have sufficient depth to cope without Thomas Stanaway who opted to focus on individual events and business commitments this summer and Magpies rugby prop Jason Long who has made pre-season rugby training his priority but will be the Hawkeyes technical advisor this weekend.
McLachlan admitted the pressure has been on his team to win in Palmy since they first won the title in 2016. They went back to back in 2017 and won again last year.
"Expectations are huge and it will be twice as hard to win this year because of the good quality gear and high level of professionalism throughout all teams."
"But we're aiming to go back to back," McLachlan added.
The full Hawkeyes team (pictured above) is:
Quinn Ryan, Randal Tarrant, Mike McLachlan, Quintin Butcher, Hayden Hart.
Sixth driver: Kairyn O'Brien.
Technical advisor: Jason Long.
In addition to the Hawkeyes, Manawatu Mustangs and Auckland Allstars the Bay Park Busters, Canterbury Glen Eagles, Gisborne Giants, Kihi Kihi Kings, Palmerston North Panthers, Rotorua Rebels, Stratford Scrappers, Waikato Warriors, Whanganui Warriors and Wellington Wildcats will be chasing berths on the podium this weekend.
