Nick Ross is headed for his first New Zealand V8 Touring Car championship after rival Jason Bargwanna struck double disaster at Pukekohe today.
Cambridge driver Ross, a long-time campaigner in this series, won both his races today in his Holden Commodore – while Bargwanna, who started the ITM 500 meeting with a good points lead, suffered two engine failures in one day.
Bargwanna’s first non-finish, in his Toyota Camry, left Ross with a slender six-point lead with three races to go in the championship and fans expecting an exciting tight finish.
For the next race the Australian switched to team-mate’s AJ Lauder’s car — but that also came to a halt in a cloud of smoke. Bargwanna had aimed to give Toyota its first official Australasian V8 championship but now he needs a non-finish by Ross tomorrow to have a chance of taking the title.
Ross did not rejoice in his rival’s misfortune: “That’s certainly not the way you want the races to go,” he said.
“I would prefer to be racing side by side with him – or have him just behind me.”
In race two Ross was trying to repass the Toyota when Bargwanna moved his car across and the two cars came into contact side-to-side.
Again, Ross was not perturbed, saying that Bargwanna was an aggressive but clean driver and the contact had not been serious.
The disappointed Bargwanna said his car had a hole in the sump after race one. The team will fit a new engine overnight for tomorrow’s two races.
Aucklander Shaun Varney was second both times in his Ford Falcon. AJ Lauder was slowed in race one by gearbox problems that eventually forced his retirement: “It wouldn’t stay in second gear,” he said.
While these drivers contested the TLX class for the new-generation cars, the TL class for the original cars also saw plenty of drama.
Lower Hutt driver James McLaughlin started the meeting ahead on points but starting race one from the back of the grid because of problems in qualifying.
He made swift progress through the field – till his Holden lost a rear wheel.
Hamilton’s Ian Booth, who is chairman and director of the category, took the lead by finishing fifth in his Holden but said: “I’m gutted for James.”
Booth then won race two, after leader Glenn Inkster also lost a wheel, so has a solid points lead over McLaughlin going into tomorrow’s final two races.
“That was hard work,” Booth, who was under heavy pressure from behind towards the end of the race, said.
This race saw two great recovery drives – McLaughlin came from last on the grid to third place, and Manukau driver Kevin Williams who spun his Holden on lap one after contact with another car but cut through to second on the final lap.
Williams, who had won the first heat, said the end of race two had been nerve-wracking.
“The left front tyre delaminated with three laps to go,” he said. “I could feel it through the steering wheel and I knew that if it let go I could be in the wall.”
Brad Lauder, AJ’s younger brother, was irate after a collision late in race two with Booth’s son Matt, who came back onto the track at the hairpin after going off course. Lauder had been third in the championship in his Ford and hoping to move forward.
Attached photo shows Nick Ross in action at Pukekohe today. It is free to use for editorial purposes but please credit Euan Cameron.
