A1GP's Reid to challenge Boeing 

New Zealand A1GP motor racing driver Jonny Reid likes a fast open track and a tough adversary. On Tuesday he tackles both... in the extreme.

Reid will jump in Black Beauty to race an Air New Zealand Boeing 777, helmed by the company's chief pilot Dave Morgan, along parallel runways at Auckland Airport - weather permitting.

The unique race between the A1GP car and a plane 328 times its weight is to promote the world descending on New Zealand for the A1GP Taupo in 13 days' time (January 20).

Twenty-one nations will whip through Auckland Airport en route to Round 5 of the World Cup of Motorsport, where New Zealand, currently third in the overall standings, will look to leap over France and make in-roads into the series lead of Switzerland.

A1 Team.NZL approached Auckland Airport about the unique promotion six months ago and Air New Zealand climbed on board after due diligence allayed safety and environmental concerns.

It will be the first time a motor racing car has scorched along the 3.11km standby runway. The airport never closes, but for the first time in its 42-year history the schedule has been adjusted to squeeze in the race.

"The nearest comparison would be the three-day Air Expo which attracted two hundred thousand spectators in 1992," said Don Huse, CEO of Auckland Airport. "Displays, dogfights and a parachute drop all took place while the airport continued its normal everyday operations.

"Fifteen years later, we're appreciably busier and the world is a more security conscious place, but we've selected a non-peak time and we're working closely with airport stakeholders to make this work smoothly."

Huse said the race was not a public event, but Black Beauty would be on display in Public Carpark 4 after the race and participants, including Jonny Reid, would be on hand to meet any fans in attendance.

"The public can catch a glimpse from the observation deck on the second floor at the International Terminal or lookouts on Puhinui Road, but the best views will be via computer when we post the footage online."

Air New Zealand Deputy CEO Norm Thompson said the airline had compelling reasons for providing Black Beauty with a sparring partner.

"We are a patriotic bunch and we've supported Jonny and the New Zealand team in A1GP events all over the globe," Thompson said. "We also love making fantastic ideas become a reality. It's going to be great fun."

Thompson said Air New Zealand was also happy to help promote A1GP's switch to biofuel at the Taupo round. Air New Zealand was at the forefront of research into developing environmentally friendly fuel and the confrontation would highlight the 'race' to a more sustainable future.

"We are already planning a bio-fuelled test flight in partnership with aircraft manufacturer Boeing and engine maker Rolls-Royce," he said. "We believe a 100 percent biofuel for aviation which effectively recycles carbon emissions is entirely possible."

A1GP will introduce a 30 percent biofuel mix, an ethanol-based product sourced from sugar beet in Europe, for the first time in Taupo.

The fuel produces less harmful particulate matter than conventional fuels and by implementing E30, A1GP will reduce CO2 emissions by 21 percent per car based on a well to wheel calculation.

A1 Team.NZL is developing a reputation for engineering unique events. This time last year the team raced Black Beauty over the south-bound clip-on lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

"We're always keen to push the boundaries," Jonny Reid said. "I like to cross-train over the holiday season, but it's usually wakeboarding or fishing, not rumbling with a jumbo jet!"

Captain Morgan, who picked the call sign NZ Alpha One (NZA1) for the flight, says racing a car also poses unique challenges to a jet pilot.

"The plane will be very light with no passengers or freight and minimal fuel so the big challenge will be keeping it on the ground long enough!"

He says the race would use less fuel than a test flight, which are regularly conducted 'empty' after specific heavy maintenance checks. Data captured from the flight also will also add to comparison data for a Boeing aerodynamic enhancement package Air New Zealand plans to trial. That package could produce a one per cent fuel saving.

All participants are keeping a close eye on the weather. A trough bringing substantial rain is expected to close in on Auckland tomorrow morning and stay for the better part of two days.

"We have our fingers and toes crossed," said A1 Team NZL commercial director Hamish Miller. "If we're grounded by wet weather, it will be difficult to re-schedule given we're talking about a commercial aircraft at a fully operational airport."