TITLE THE FOCUS FOR LAKE

Rising West Australian V8 Dirt Modified competitor Bryn Lake is eagerly awaiting the chance to lock horns with the Eastern States stars in the Australian Championship set down for the Manjimup Speedway on February 20 and 21 2009.

"My aim is to qualify for the A Main, stated Lake, "And then see what happens after that.

"I think my car is good enough. It will be up to the driver."

Lake has journeyed across the Nullarbor to contest the last two national titles but without any luck.

"At Murray Bridge (SA) in 2007 my steering wheel came off in my hands and I went straight into the fence.

"Then last season at Warrnambool (Vic) I had power steering problems.

"It was pretty disappointing to travel that far and hardly experience any racing.”

The 23 year old Lake has been racing in the V8 Dirt Modified division for the past five years and has steadily improved his equipment.

"Over the winter months I am updating the diff and the gear box, plus increasing the power of the engine.

"Naturally I am focusing on the title. I want to keep the car straight and not wreck too much gear.”

Lake concedes that lack of numbers have been the biggest problem with the division in recent years.

"We have a few rookies coming in this time around and hopefully more cars will come out of sheds and onto the track.

He knows that the allocation of the title to Manjimup has been criticized in some quarters but feels that it is only fair that the west coasters get a home game - even though it is 307km south of Perth.

"The track has just been reopened after a bit of break, but some of the visitors raced there in the past".