UDC NZV8 Ute series leader Chris Hanley took another win in the first race of the fourth round at Taupo Motorsport Park today, but only after Aussie ace Kris ‘Killa’ Walton spun away a healthy lead on the final lap.
Walton looked dominant, having secured pole position by four tenths, romped away from the field at a huge rate in the opening few laps and looked to have secured a debut win at the Taupo track. Into the Turn 11 hairpin for the final time, he made a slight error and spun the Multispares Holden BF. He was able to recover, but could only finish fourth.
Hammer Time Hanley, holding second ahead of championship rival Mike Lightfoot in the Ford Falcon, inherited the win in the Brother Holden with Jeff Kernohan a great third in his Ford.
Behind Walton in fourth was fellow Aussie Road Dawson – who just got quicker and quicker – with Matt Lockwood sixth after a very busy practice and qualifying in the mitre 10 Trade Holden. Normally pedalled by James ‘Huggi’ Urquart, the team had to find a fair amount of ballast between practice and qualifying to get the Lockwood/Holden combo up to weight.
Geoff Spencer finished a solid seventh just a second behind Lockwood, with series debutant Matt Gibson eighth after turning a few heads in practice with the fastest time then lining up fifth on the grid for his first UDC Ute encounter.
Brett Rudd finished ninth in the Pallet Supplies Holden, and a frustrated Peter Ward rounded out the top ten. Peter Robb and Richard Gee enjoyed a great scrap for the final place, with the verdict eventually going Robb’s way after some great defensive work. Dave Kernohan failed to make the starting grid after an axle failure on his Ford, disappointing with the Kernohan team clearly on the pace at Taupo.
