Slow
Down You Move Too Fast
Far exceeding all pre-conceived
expectations, Wellington driver Brent Melhop took to the Ruapuna
circuit and was even asked to slow down after making some of the
regulars look bad in his first ever appearance in the Moneyworks-Volt
Mini Cooper this weekend.
"We had a brilliant weekend on a tough circuit and things couldn't have
gone better for us - I even had some of the guys come and tell me to
slow down a bit" he laughs.
Melhop left Capital City for the Christchurch circuit to chase a top 10
result from this Round of the NZ Mini Challenge and was quickly
uplifted
when he achieved the fifth fastest time in Friday practice.
Qualifying in eighth in Race One on Saturday afternoon the Christchurch
born Melhop drove
his car to the limits and held his ground finishing in that position
holding
off some very tough competition from the aggresive drivers behind.
Sunday morning's racing proved to be just as tough and Melhop was
once again fending off opposition from behind. As on Saturday he drove
hard and fast giving back as good as he got and once more flying the
car
across the finish line in eighth place.
Two races down and the accountant from the windy city was well inside
the top 10 and achieving his pre-determined goal for his very first
Tier One event and the team were doing all they could to keep him there.
"The team were great! They were treating me like a works driver and
sending me away while they set up the car. They just did a stunning
job" said Melhop regarding the Wilford Motorsport crew Al
Manila, Gary Wilson and Marty Hunt.
Saving his best until last, the accountant from Wellington was on the
pace again in Race Three where he grabbed fifth place and held on to it
tightly
until the bitter end holding off some strong attacks from
the rear by Rhys McKay in the latter stages.
"It made it all worthwhile being on such a technical track and I guess
they thought I did ok for a novice because I was even interviewed by
the lovely Hanna the mini girl. They came over and interviewed me for
being the most outstanding driver for the weekend so hopefully I will
even get some TV coverage!"
Being back in his hometown, Brent Melhop's mother and relatives were
all there
to support the driver who left Christchurch for Wellington over
18 years ago.
"My mum was there - I didn't know she was coming but my wife organised
it. Everybody was there, I couldn't have asked for a better weekend but
now I'm off home to see my girls Olivia, Victoria and my wife Andrea"
said Melhop before boarding a plane bound for home.
Next gig for the Moneyworks-Volt Mini Cooper will be at the A1GP held
in January at Taupo where karter Karl Wilson will again take control of
the car. Wilson competed the first round of the season at Pukekohe and
Brent Melhop is
hoping to get back behind the wheel again at Teretonga or Timaru.
MUCH APPRECIATION GOES TO
MONEYWORKS - VOLT
ESPRESSO - AXIOM HYDRAULICS - TYPEFACE - TRACKTIME
AND
BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE
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