Motor Sport
There was thunder and rain at Teretonga Park in Invercargill today when the annual Southern Thunder race meeting got underway at the country’s oldest motor race circuit. The NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Truck Championship and the Mobil 1 Mainland Muscle Cars were among the classes that brought the thunder while the weather brought the rain which was present for much of the day.
Alex Little of Lower Hutt in a Freightliner Century started his quest for a sixth successive Mobil Delvac 1 Trophy, the prize for the Teretonga Park round of the NAPA Auto Parts NZ Super Trucks Championship, with a second place in the opening race of the weekend behind team mate Brent ‘Bones‘ Collins of Pareora with Dave West of Pukekohe third in his Freightliner Argosy.
The championship’s visit to Teretonga Park is supported this weekend by King House Removals.
The rain made little difference to Mike Wallace of Dunedin in his Chev Monza as he drove to an impressive win in the fantastic field of Mobil 1 Mainland Muscle Cars. Wallace won from pole sitter Rhys Gould of Christchurch in a Ford Falcon XE and local driver Brendan Mason in another Chev Monza.
Championship leader John Hepburn of Timaru broke a rocker in his Holden Monaro during qualifying and did not race today.
Simon Crampton of Christchurch in his BMW M3 won the Historic & Vintage Racing Association race with Gary Johnstone of Rolleston just pipping Angus Fogg of Auckland on the line for second place. Johnstone was in his Jaguar XJS and Fogg in the locally owned Doug Erskine Mini.
Benny Yan of Christchurch won the first ever MX5 Heritage Cup race held at the circuit chased all the way by fellow Christchurch driver and fastest qualifier Brayden Phillips with Alex Corpe of Feilding third.
The Pre 65 and NZ 6 Saloons raced together with John Smolenski of Invercargill in his Ford Falcon leading home Corey Ross of Rolleston (Mustang) and Doug North of Invercargill in his Falcon in the Pre 65 Saloons while Mick Ross of Dunedin (Commodore) headed home Cody Welch of Alexandra (Falcon) and Marty Russell of Dunedin (Commodore) in the NZ 6 Saloon battle.
Jordan Michels of Invercargill in his Marc Mustang took the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons race from Liam MacDonald (Ford Falcon) after MacDonald stormed through the field from the back of the grid. Third was Hamish Robinson of Tarras in a quick Fiat Uno Turbo.
Sunday’s action commences at 9.30am and a day pass at the gate is just $30 while children 14 & under are free as long as they are accompanied by an adult.