Mixed weather conditions brought a mixture of results at the opening weekend of motor racing for the 2014/2015 season at Teretonga Park near Invercargill this weekend.
Saturday dawned fine and sunny and Hugh Gardiner of Auckland took pole and led all the way in his Porsche GT3 997 to win the ASKO Appliances 1 Hour Endurance race, leading home Cantabrians Hayden Knighton/Garry Cliff by one lap with Chris Henderson of Dunedin third. Invercargill driver Bradley Dawson won Class 3/4 in his Toyota Trueno. The ASKO 3 Hour Endurance race later in the day saw the Andrew Bagnall/Ant Pedersen Porsche GT3 hold off the fast finishing Paul Kelly/Craig Baird car after rain hit the circuit with 20 minutes remaining. Two safety car periods in that last segment of the race created an exciting finish. The Bagnall/Pedersen and Kelly/Baird cars were the dominant cars in the race.
Unfortunately the much anticipated debut of the Inky Tulloch/Grant Aitken German-built 650hp, 7.9 litre Camaro V8 was delayed when the car withdrew before the race with gearbox issues.
Sunday was cool and wet with track conditions varying throughout the day. 2013/2014 NZ Champion George Gilbert of Timaru won all three races in the Pro 7 Saloons with fellow Timaru driver Hamish Collins picking up two second placings. Mitchell Hamilton of Pleasant Point secured a second and third and Jason Corboy of Christchurch a third placing in the class.
In the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloon races Outram driver Glenn Johnston and Invercargill’s Liam MacDonald were to the fore. MacDonald won three of the five races in his NZV8 Falcon with Johnston taking one in his Honda while Warren Kett of Invercargill won the Handicap race in his Mazda RX7 ahead of Nicky Maw and Todd Blackmun, both of Invercargill.
A small field of Sports & Racing Cars fought out three races, Dave McKenzie of Invercargill taking two victories and Brendon Leitch one.
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The next meeting at Teretonga Park takes place on Sunday 2 November.
