Records are made to be broken but it’s going to take a super-human effort to match – let alone beat – the one International Motorsport team Porsche GT3 driver Ian Hayr has just set.

At the final round of the 2012/13 IRC New Zealand motor racing championship at Taupo over the Easter weekend the the 52-year-old from Morrinsville not only claimed the New Zealand Porsche Championship title for the fourth consecutive time, he has also won his class – GT2 – in the GTRNZ series (run at the same meetings as the Porsche championship) on his first attempt

That’s five titles in the space of four years, not bad for someone who didn’t start racing until the age of 48.

Motorsport New Zealand first recognised the New Zealand Porsche Championship in 2002 and since then Hayr is one of only two drivers  – the other is 2007 and 2008 champ Stephen Neville – to win it more than once.

Four times though? And in consecutive years?

“It’s unprecedented,” confirms International Motorsport team manager Nick Williamson. “Winning three in a row was hard enough, but to win a fourth when you’re doing double duty in the GTR series is a huge achievement.

“It was definitely  more of a challenge this year,” agrees Hayr, a lifelong motorsport enthusiast whose introduction to the New Zealand Porsche Championship was via track and driver training days organised by International Motorsport’s sister company Downforce Events.

Though he used the same car – a road-legal 996 Porsche GT3 Cup Car developed by International Motorsport – in both Porsche and NZ GTR series Hayr had the added complication of driving on different types of tyres;  road-legal semi-slicks in the Porsche races, track-only slicks in the GTRNZ ones.

Not that it seemed to matter. If anything, says Hayr, the extra track time and competition helped him raise his game to another level this season.

“You find you push yourself harder, either to keep the faster guys out or to keep up with them.”

Few drivers win a title in their debut year. Even fewer go on to successfully defend that title four years in a row. Hayr is understandably very proud of the part he has played behind the wheel but stresses that it has been a true team effort.

“I couldn’t have done it, obviously, without a well prepared and run car and that comes back to International Motorsport and their great backup.”

He would also like to acknowledge the role his wife Claire has played in his campaign.

“She’s been with me all the way and I certainly wouldn’t be doing it without her support,” says Hayr.