In an exciting opening race at Timaru International Motor Raceway the NZV8 Touring Cars turned it on for the locals with Jason Bargwanna claiming the win for the TLX class while Timaru’s very own John Hepburn turned his Ford Falcon debut into a local victory.
Holden driver Nick Ross was fastest in the TLX Championship qualification session but it was Bargwanna who stole pole position in the Top 10 Shootout with team mate A J Lauder pushing Ross aside to complete a Toyota Camry only front row.
At the start of the race this afternoon Bargwanna came out kicking but it was Ross who with a powerful start managed to quickly get around Lauder to offer a strong challenge to the Australian.
The pair fought hard throughout the 12 lap race and Bargwanna was unable to shake the driver from Cambridge although a challenge for the lead never really eventuated with the pair crossing the line just over half a second apart.
“It was high pressure the whole time because I used tyres from teretonga knowing that Nick didn’t use his greens down in Teretonga because we had the dramas and the DNF so he just did not use his tyres.” said Bargwanna.
“So coming into this weekend he had ten and we had six (tyres) so we had to roll the dice, we used our old tyres and got away with it and we are back on a level playing field.” he said.
Ross believes the Holden Commodore has some good speed although he wasn’t able to put in his best lap for the shoot-out.
“We made a couple of tweaks after qualifying and I think we are headed the right way, we’re not quite there yet but I think if we go a bit more the car will just keep getting better and better as the weekend goes on – there’s not a lot in it and was very enjoyable racing.” said Nick Ross.
In the NZV8 Touring Cars TL Championship Timaru’s John Hepburn took advantage of an early mistake from Turua’s Brad Lauder also in a Ford Falcon and moved into the lead which he held until crossing the finish line.
Lauder took pole in the Top 10 Shoot-out ahead of Hepburn and current points leader James McLaughlin who slid on the final turn ruining his lap time and opportunity to claim pole.
McLaughlin eventually finished third in the race maintaining his grip on the championship lead.
“Was a bit of fun actually Brad certainly kept me honest and if he hadn’t made a mistake in lap two down the bottom end here I don’t know if I would have had him in all fairness.” said John Hepburn.
“We were both going pretty hard and putting in some good lap times and I made a mistake in the last lap and was lucky enough to keep it in the hairpin.” he said
On Sunday the action fires up again with a reversed grid race two at 11.29AM and then a longer 25 lapper for race three which includes a pitstop for the TLX class and begins at 2.06PM.
Results – Race One, Timaru International Motor Raceway
NZV8 Touring Cars TLX Championship
1st Jason Bargwanna Australia Toyota Camry
2nd Nick Ross Cambridge Holden Commodore
3rd A J Lauder Turua Toyota Camry
4th Shaun Varney Auckland Ford Falcon
5th Lance Hughes Hamilton Holden Commodore
NZV8 Touring Cars TL Championship
1st John Hepburn Timaru Ford Falcon
2nd Brad Lauder Turua Ford Falcon
3rd James McLaughlin Lower hutt Holden Commodore
4th Bronson Porter Hamilton Holden Commodore
5th Grant Molloy Invercargill Ford Falcon
6th Liam MacDonald Invercargill Ford Falcon
7th Brock Cooley Wellington Ford Falcon
8th Ian Booth Hamilton Holden Commodore
9th Mathew Booth Hamilton Holden Commodore
10th Nathan Pilcher Winton Holden Commodore
Along with the NZV8 Touring Cars Championship the weekend will include more exciting racing from Toyota Racing Series, NZ Formula Ford, Nitto Tyres NZ Six, NZ Sports Sedan Challenge, Rally Class Series and the Mainland Muscle Cars.
NZV8 Touring Cars Calendar
Rd 1 Pukekohe Park Raceway 16-17 November 2013 (completed)
Rd 2 Teretonga Park, Invercargill 11-12 January 2014 (completed)
Rd 3 Timaru International Motor Raceway 18-19 January 2014
Rd 4 Manfeild, Feilding (NZ Grand Prix) 08-09 February 2014
Rd 5 Taupo Motorsport Park 08-09 March 2014
Rd 6 Pukekohe Park (V8 Supercars) 25-27 April 2014 (ANZAC Weekend)
