Motor Sport
The annual Southern Thunder race meeting featuring the NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Trucks and UDC V8 Utes got underway at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today with all classes having their first race of the weekend after testing and qualifying.
The NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Trucks are fighting out Round 3 of their championship this weekend, the round supported by Kings House Removals, with the Mobil Delvac 1 Trophy up for grabs.
Reigning New Zealand Champion and five-time winner of the trophy, Alex Little of Lower Hutt, in his Freightliner Century qualified on pole and took the race victory in the opening race today. Team mate Brent ‘Bones’ Collins of Pareora in a similar truck kept close company throughout and crossed the line second just .693 of a second behind with the championship leader coming into this round, Shane Gray of Wellington, third in his Kenworth 409.
The UDC V8 Utes are paying their first visit to Teretonga Park for many years and it was championship leader Glen Collinson of Ohaupo in the Waikato who took the race win in his Falcon with Jake Stoneman of Drury second in a Commodore just .332 of a second behind. Phill Ross of Cambridge in another Commodore was third. Fastest qualifier and current New Zealand Champion Brad Kroef of Hamilton in a Falcon was fourth.
A small turnout of Mainland Muscle Cars saw them running with the NZ Six Saloons and Ross Wylde of Westport made the long trek worthwhile with a win in his Commodore from John Smolenski of Invercargill in his Falcon and Peter Templeton of Cromwell in his Commodore. Marty Russell of Dunedin in a Commodore took the NZ Six class honours.
Smolenski won the Pre 65 Saloon race in his Falcon from Paul Clarke of Dunedin (Mustang) and Corey Ross of Rolleston in another Mustang.
Bradley Rule of Queenstown won the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloon Class A race in his Holden Commodore VE SuperTourer from Steve Ross of Dunedin who had qualified fastest in his new Ligier JSP3 LMP3 car with Mike Hall of Queenstown third in his Volkswagen Golf. Ross set the fastest lap of 57.197 seconds in the race while second fastest qualifier, Kyle Dawson of Invercargill, in his Jaguar XKR was a non-finisher.
In the Club Saloons Class B race Peter Bennetts of Queenstown in his Seat Supercopa took the win from Logan Anderson of Cromwell (Honda Integra) and Dave Robertson of Invercargill (Falcon).
Tomorrow’s action commences at 9.30am with seventeen races scheduled.
Races include the annual One Hour race and the NZ Super Truck Flying Farewell race where often other drivers take the wheel of trucks for that one race. Garry Price of Cromwell has qualified fastest in Ron Salter’s Scania on a grid that features friends, family members and mechanics from some of the teams.
Sunday admission is just $30 while children 14 & under are free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.