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McLaren look to close gap on Red Bull

McLaren are aiming for the front row in Spain

McLaren are confident they can get a car on the front row of the grid for the first time this season at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. Chief engineer Tim Goss said "significant upgrades" to the cars should give McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton a boost.

"I'd like to think we can put a car on the front row," Goss told BBC Sport's web site. "We've a new front and rear wing, both are reasonably major changes compared to the last version."

Although McLaren top the constructors' championship with 109 points and lead the drivers' championship through Button, they have been slower in qualifying than Ferrari and Red Bull. So far this season their best qualifying position has been fourth by Button in Australia and Hamilton in Bahrain. However, Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg has also out-qualified both McLarens in two of this season's four races.

And with the Barcelona track notoriously difficult for overtaking Hamilton is aware qualifying will be crucial on Saturday. "As we did in China, we'll be putting additional emphasis on qualifying," said Hamilton. "It will be more important than ever in Barcelona as traditionally it's always been a track where overtaking is very difficult.

"Given that most cars will only be stopping once, we have less scope for passing, so a good grid position will be vital."

Van Gisbergen back to podium best

Van Gisbergen was competitive all weekend

Kiwi driver Shane van Gisbergen was back to his podium best at the fifth round of this year's V8 Supercar championship series in Queensland over the weekend, finishing second overall to round winner James Courtney

After workingout just how long the extra grip from the softer, 'sprint' tyre re-introduced this weekend would last in practice on Friday, the 20-year-old from Auckland's Manukau City set the second quickest lap time in the first qualifying session and the third best lap time - behind Holden's Garth Tander and James Courtney - in the Top Ten Shootout, before finishing third behind Courtney and Craig Lowndes in the first race.

That sparkling form continued on Sunday with fourth place in the morning qualifying session behind Jamie Whincup, Courtney and Lowndes, then third place in the race behind Courtney and Tander.

Points-wise, podiums in both races gave the former New Zealand Formula Ford and TRS International series champion second place for the round behind Courtney, and third - up from fifth - in the series points standings from Whincup and Courtney second with former series champion Garth Tander fourth.

Smyth and Hart lead kart series charge

Josh Hart at speed in the Rotax Lights
Auckland's Graeme Smyth and Palmerston North's Josh Hart were the big winners at the joint Gen-i Kartstars Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand/Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series round in the Bay of Plenty over the weekend.

Young gun Smyth was one of three drivers taking the battle to fastest qualifier and heat and Pre-Final winner Ryan Grant in the premier Mi Sedaap series KZ2 class and was perfectly positioned to pass Grant for the round win in the Final when Grant's kart slowed late in the race as its engine went off song.

Hart, meanwhile, fought and finally won a weekend-long battle with last year's Formula Junior class winner Daniel Kinsman to claim top honours in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class.

Other winners at the round, the third of five for both series, were defending class champion and top finishing local driver Mark Swetman in F125S, Aucklander Bradley Hicks in KF3, Rangiora driver Hamish Cross in 125cc Rotax Max Heavy and Cambridge's Andy Schofield in Formula Junior.

Nurburgring pilgrimage underway

O'Reilly and Moore will have an upgraded Golf
Tauranga motorsport competitors Wayne Moore and Maurice O’Reilly will again make their annual pilgrimage to the Nurburgring circuit in Germany for the well known 24 Hour race. The race will be run over the weekend 13 – 16 May.

Wayne is competing for his 17th consecutive year while Maurice notches up his 12th race at this challenging 25km circuit. Wayne is New Zealand's most experienced competitor at Nurburgring while Maurice is the country's most experienced endurance driver with 28 international events.

Both drivers are again competing with the most successful team in the popular 2lt diesel class – Oettinger RSR. This is the VW factory-assisted team that has an enviable reputation for podium finishes in its class during its 17 years at the event.

The car is a VW Golf VR-TDi meticulously prepared by VW personnel to the highest standard. Since last year the car has been rebuild with improved suspension, additional power and improved aerodynamics. The team is confident of maintaining their reputation among the class favorites and expects to be well placed overall in the event.

Again a significant contingent of drivers from New Zealand will be competing in the event. Team Kiwi will field their two very reliable and successful Hondas together with a leased Audi.