Motorsport Treat at Teretonga Park
Southern motorsport fans are in for a treat when Round 2 of the spectacular Carter’s Tyre Service South Island Endurance Series takes place at Teretonga Park in Invercargill this Saturday (23 September).
The day will feature a 3 Hour race as well as two 1 Hour races for various classes with cars such as Porsche, McLaren, Audi, Lotus, BMW, Volkswagen, Seat, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes, Ginetta and more on track.
Last year’s 3 Hour race winners Sam Fillmore and Jonny Reid return to attempt a repeat of last year’s victory in their Audi R8 GT3 after a cracker race last year which saw Reid take the lead for the final time with just three minutes remaining. The duo has also taken victory in the first round of this year’s series recently. In addition to last year’s win Reid had paired with Neil Foster to win the Teretonga 3 Hour race in 2018 and 2019 while Fillmore had won it in 2016 in a Ferrari. Reid is a former New Zealand A1 GP star and also won the New Zealand Grand Prix when it was held at Teretonga Park in 2003.
Fillmore and Reid will face tough opposition however with father and son, Paul and Anthony Pedersen, in their Mercedes Benz AMG GT3 and Steve Brooks/Bill Riding of Christchurch also in an Audi expected to do well. Glenn Smith of Taranaki who won the race in 2021 with Damon Leitch is back in his McLaren 650S with John DeVeth this time while 2015 winners Scott O’Donnell and Allan Dippie line up in a Porsche GT3 Cup 992.
In the 1 Hour Class 2 & 3 Race Jordan Michels, in his new MARC Ford Mustang, and Glen Brazier, in his new Porsche GT3 Cup 992, will be local hopes while Cantabrian’s Angus McFarlane/Michael Bushell (Porsche GT3 Cup 996) will be big threats as will Round 1 winner Matt Whittaker of Wellington in his 992 Porsche, Ayrton Hodson of Katikati (Porsche 991.1) and Adam Julian of Christchurch in an Audi R8 GT3.
In the 1 Hour Class 4 & 5 Race Rhys Gould of Christchurch in his Hyundai i30N TCR won the opening round but again the opposition is tough. Scott O’Donnell pilots a similar car which he used to finish second at Teretonga Park last year. Mike Hall of Queenstown in a Volkswagen Golf TCR was fourth last year while Warren Black of Oamaru led across the line in his Audi here last year only to receive a penalty dropping him to third. Newcomer Pel Arnott of Auckland in another Hyundai could surprise.
Action on the day starts at 9.00am with three 15-minute qualifying sessions, one each for the two 1 Hour races and one for the 3 Hour race competitors. The Class 4&5 1 Hour race follows at 10.20am with the Class 1&2 1 Hour race next at 11.40am.
The 3 Hour Race starts at 1.30pm in the afternoon.
Tickets which cost just $20 each (plus any applicable charges) are available from Auto Centre, Tweed Street, Invercargill and E Hayes & Sons, Dee Street, Invercargill.
Children 14 & under accompanied by a paying adult on the day are free.