There is no let up for competitors in the 2013 ASKO Endurance Series as teams tackle their third round in 5 weeks as the Series hits Timaru’s tight and technical Levels Raceway this Saturday, with the makings of another great days racing as teams chase valuable points in both overall and class standings. This Saturday’s two races will see teams battle it out in the penultimate round of the Series and with lap & race records already falling at both previous 2013 rounds, can the Series’ longest standing record, the 3hr Levels race record, finally be broken. The current record of 159 laps was set in 2006 by Craig Cottle/Adam Macrow in a Ford Falcon AU V8 Supercar. But regardless if the record is finally eclipsed or not, fans can be assured of some outstanding motorsport action.

The 3 Hour race the race winner is likely to come from the exotic GT class and there have already been some ferocious battles this season. But with a few of the top drivers away racing V8 Supertourers this weekend, this will add even more spice to the race as some teams deal with new drivers who have never previously raced on the Levels circuit. Current Series leader and defending Series Champion Paul Kelly (Porsche 997 GT3) teams up with Australian V8 Supercar driver David Reynolds, fresh from a strong showing at Bathurst, whilst Simon Ellingham (997 GT3) who has had pole position at both 2013 rounds to date and a race win at Teretonga will be joined by defending Australian GT Series champion Klark Quinn. The International Motorsport pairing of and Rick Armstrong/Matt Hamilton (997 GT3) are promising to be faster at Levels, after scrambling to secure a fine 2nd place at Ruapuna with a very sick engine, and Andrew Bagnall (997 GT3) will be joined by ex NZ Production racing champion Simon Sceats. Others looking for vengeance will be the speedy Porsche 997 Cup R of past champions Angus McFarlane/Michael Bushell, who failed to fire a shot at Ruapuna with a broken axel and the Matt Carter/Dwayne Carter Falcon V8 Supercar who put on a great showing at Ruapuna only to have their race thwarted after a late race tangle.

Fan can rest assured however, that the battles will be just as fierce right through the field and in Class 1 (3501cc +) it has been the Graeme Rhodes/Paul Rickerby (RX7 V8) that has taken two wins from two starts in 2013 and their speed & consistency also sees then sitting a creditable 3rd outright in the Series standings. Class bridesmaids on both occasions have been the Dave Dovey/Andrew Bowler/Shane Wenzlick Falcon BA who have showed speed & consistency and currently sit 2nd in class & 5th outright. The Ruapuna round was high on attrition for the Class 1 cars so look for the John Wadsworth/Warren Croft (Commodore VY) and the Perry Scarfe/Shane Hodgson (Falcon BA) to make a comeback against the two Class 1 BMWs of Carl & Steve Kirk-Burnnand (BMW 1351) and the beautiful BMW M3 GT4 V8 of Warwick & Andre Mortimer. Father & daughter team Ian & Alyssa Clapperton (Commodore VK V8) should have their gearbox issues sorted for Levels, but unfortunately the new Corvette C6r wont make Timaru as the team work to solve its reliability issues before the Highlands finale

Class 2 (2001cc -3500cc) will again see a great battle between the Toyota’s of Pat & Ryan Heagney (AE86 Turbo) and the similar car of Craig & Scotty McDermid taking on the immaculate BMW M3 of Dean McGuigan/Pavlos Van Aalst, in what is the closest of class battles to date. However the Class 2 party could easily be spoiled by the Motorsport Services team who are likely to field 3 of their Seat Leon Supercopa’s for Levels or the BMW GTr of Allan & David McCormick who have suffered from reliability issues in both previous rounds. The class will also see Andrew Simms/Chris West Mitsi (Evo 9) make a return after recently claiming 3rd outright in the NZ Rally Championship.

Class 3&4 (0-2000cc) has been dominated by the Honda’s to date with the ex- Kiwi Team Nurburgring Civic of Paul Coghill/David Hunter leading the class from another Civic of Jeff Vincent/Daniel Currie. The ever reliable Peugeot 106 is currently 3rd in class ahead of the Toyota’s of Stu & Arron Black (Starlet) and Grant Constable/Bill Currie (Corona), whilst local drivers Steve Parker/Matt Jackson will be looking for a much better run in their Honda S2000 after suffering all kinds of woes at the two previous rounds.

So the pressure is really on teams and drivers at this penultimate round as they look to juggle for positions in the overall and class standings. After this Saturdays round at Levels, there is a brief chance to regroup before teams get to the Series Grand Finale being held at the magnificent new Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell on 8/9/10 November, where drivers & teams will make once last gasp to lay their hands on the Series prizemoney and silverware.

The overall 3 Hour Series champion will be awarded the ‘South Canterbury Toyota Cup’, plus the Club has been donated an original watercolour painting by High Country artist Norman Sinclair valued at approx $10,000-00 and a set of Michelin tyres that will both be given away as spot prizes to competitors in the series, plus two full Vortex Racewear kits for the Series ‘Fair Play Award’. Thanks to series sponsors Southern Finance Ltd, Paul Kelly Motor Company, Hagley Aluminium, Mobil 1 and of course ASKO Appliances, the Series will have the richest prize money pool in NZ Motorsport, with $30,000- that will be paid out as prize money for the season. With $10,000- up for grabs for the overall 3 Hour Series winner, the balance will be paid out based on class points across both the 3 Hour and 1 Hour Series, ensuring that prizemoney is spread right through the field.

The series has a great number & variety of entries for the Levels round, but does still have grid space available for the Three Hour races. 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 sierdc@nullxtra.co.nz ph 021-107-9293. Club information can also be found on facebook at www.facebook.com/sierdcnz, for more information on the series sponsor ASKO, please visit www.asko.co.nz