Auckland’s Hugh Gardiner has won the 2014 ASKO One Hour Endurance Championship and the New Zealand One Hour Endurance title after a dominant performance at Timaru International Motor Raceway on Saturday. Second home and overall was Christchurch’s Hayden Knighton with the driver pairing of Sam Fillmore and Danny Stutterd third.
Fourth home was the Ferrari F430 Challenge car of Gerald Trass/Robin Gray followed by Phil Hood (Porsche GT3), Tim O’Connor (Ferrari 458 Challenge), Patrick Heagney/Ryan Heagney (Toyota AE86 ) and Sue McLaughlin (Porsche GT3).
Gardiner proved too strong over the three round ASKO Series which started at Teretonga Park, Invercargill in September with the second round at Ruapuna, Christchurch, a fortnight ago.
Three pole positions, three lap records and three round wins have ticked all the boxes for Gardiner. “For me the championship has just been fantastic,” commented Gardiner (Porsche GT3 Cup). “I’ve really enjoyed being part of it. We only put the package together six weeks before the first round and the car had its first run at practice at Teretonga. Overall we have had a lot of fun.”
Knighton finished second to Gardiner at all three rounds with luck on his side at Timaru. After the compulsory pitstop, Knigthon came out third behind Chris Henderson (Toyota Corolla AE86) and twice came close to passing and regaining second. Having eventually settled behind Henderson and conceding that he wouldn’t get passed, the driveshaft of the Henderson’s Corolla went on the last lap gifting Knighton a higher finish and Henderson a DNF.
“We’re very happy to have finished and very lucky to take second today,” commented Knighton. “We just wanted to finish. Chris was quicker today but unlucky!”
Twenty-nine cars took to the grid in dry cool conditions which saw two safety car periods in the 60 minute race. Just after 15 minutes debris on the track brought a flood of drivers into the pits for their compulsory pitstop.
After 36 minutes #151 Darryn Andrews (Nissan Primera) gearbox let go dropping oil and causing the car to spin into the inside wall on the start/finish straight.
The Fillmore/Stutterd Porsche GT3 Cup elected not to pit during the first safety car period. “We didn’t exactly get our strategy right,” commented Fillmore. “However the race played into our hands and we are thrilled to have finished third.”
Johnny Waldron (Nissan Skyline R32) was the first Class 1 car home in 14th position. This was enough to win the series title from Alyssa Clapperton (Commodore) who finished the round in 20th position.
Seventh in the round and first Class 2 car was Pat Heaney/Ryan Heagney (Toyota AE86). They won the overall title from Warren Good (BMW E30) and Adam Glass (BMW E30 M3).
Stuar Black was the first Class 3 /4 car home in 10th but the overall title was won by Gary Ponting/Barry Moore (Honda Civic) from Mark Denton (BMW 320i) and Ian Wooster (Mazda MX5).
