Aucklands Hugh Gardiner has convincingly won the second round of the 1 Hour ASKO Endurance Series at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, just outside Christchurch over the weekend. Second home was Christchurch’s Hayden Knighton/Garrry Cliff Porsche GT3 with Sam Fillmore/Danny Stutterd (Porsche GT3) third.
“Our car has been good all weekend,” commented Gardiner (Porsche GT3). “We got all the little things right. The pitstop went well and we have come away with two wins from two starts. It couldn’t get any better than that.”
In what was almost a repeat of the first round a fortnight ago in Invercargill, Gardiner (Porsche GT3) put his car on pole and then led every lap for one hour. Knighton/Cliff were also faultless in their drive for second while Fillmore/Stutterd only just snatched third on the last lap from Chris Henderson (Corolla AE86). Thirty-one cars took to the grid with 25 finishing, and six retiring from the race held in fine warm conditions.
“I’m happy with second,” commented second placed Knighton. “It was a matter of passing cars, keeping it clean, staying calm and keeping it going.”
While Fillmore/Stutterd held third for the first half of the race, Henderson got ahead after a 15 minute safety car intervention at the half way mark, only to go wide at the hairpin on the last lap dropping back to fourth overall. Henderson was the first Class 1 (>3501cc) car home, adding to his class win and third overall in round one a fortnight ago.
The Ferrari F430 Challenge car of Gerald Trass and Danny Whiting’s Porsche GT3 came together at the Esses exactly at the halfway point of the race. Caught up in the action was a third slower car, with all three together through the first Esse. Whiting and Trass came together resulting in both cars retiring with damage. For a quarter of the race time the field was held under safety car while the track was cleaned up. Some confusion reigned with the restart order behind the safety car which appeared to give Gardiner more of an advantage and lessened the challenge from the pursuing pack.
Fifth home was Phil Hood (Porsche GT3) followed by the immaculate Tim O’Connor Ferrari 458 and the Porsche GT3 of Paul Wright in seventh.
Class 2 (2001-3500cc) was won by the Toyota AE86 of Patrick and Ryan Heagney who finished eighth overall. Gary Ponting/Barry Moore (Honda Civic EF) won Class 3-4 (0-2000cc) and finished 11th overall.
Gardiner leads both the series and the GT Class heading to the third and final round at Timaru International Raceway on 18 October where the overall 3 Hour Series champion will be awarded the South Canterbury Toyota Cup as well as the New Zealand Endurance Championship title.
For more information on the South Island Endurance Series, entries, or to be added to the South Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club’s e-mailing list, please contact Chris Dunn via e-mail at [email protected] ph 021-107-9293. Club information can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sierdcnz, where there are free tickets plus a hotlap to be given away. For more information on the series sponsor ASKO, please visit www.asko.co.nz
