Two-time consecutive New Zealand F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series winner Steve Ross, of Dunedin, has ''nothing to lose'' going into this weekend's second round at Hampton Downs.
He has already forfeited defending his title this season, as the series' first round clashed with the Highlands 101 meeting in November, where Ross had accepted a tempting drive offer.
He was to race a Mosler MT900 sports car, belonging to Highlands Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn, in the two Australian GT Series races and the feature 101-lap endurance race but terminal engine failure ended his experience early in the weekend. Ross was philosophical, saying the 40 laps he did get to complete in the ''beautiful car to drive'' were well worthwhile, and not attending the first round took the pressure off his F5000 season.
''We don't have to be careful any more,'' he said, of being able to race all-out without worrying about conserving championship points.
His Motorsport Solutions-run 1973 McRae GM1 will be fighting fit after receiving a new engine last winter and a recent body and chassis overhaul. It will receive plenty of track time as this meeting is followed up by another at Hampton Downs again next weekend.
The fourth and final round is on the third successive weekend at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch.
