One of the best GT3 field seen in New Zealand will shortly tackle the four-round 2021 Three-Hour Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series. There are plenty of unknown’s heading into the season which gets underway in just under a fortnight’s time at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch, Saturday 4 September 2021, before heading to Invercargill (18 Sept), Cromwell (2 Oct) and Timaru (16 Oct).
There are two key reasons for the very high level of competitiveness heading to the first round. First, the loss of two top competitors from 2020. Neil Foster (Audi R8) along with Jonny Reid have been the team to beat in both the South Island and national title races. This season Foster will step back from competing for business reasons while the 2020 victor’s car, The Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3, driven by Alex Riberas and Darren Kelly, has gone back to the US (along with Riberas) to compete in the IMSA.
The second reason is that while most of the entered drivers have previously competed in the series, their cars are either new to NZ or to the series, so it is difficult to speculate on favourites. Which car/driver pairing to emerge at the top, at this stage, is unknown.
One of the most exciting cars to be seen and considered a bit of an unknown is the brand-new Brabham BT62 (main picture). To be driven by brothers Matt and Dwayne Carter, it will be the first time that a BT62 is raced in Australasia. It will also be the first car to carry any sort of restriction imposed by the South Island Endurance Series organisers. That being it can only be piloted by ‘amateur’ drivers.
Up against the Brabham will be the very quick Renault RS01 of Shane Helms and Greg Murphy. While the car was entered in the recent 2021 Golden Homes North Island Endurance Series, it never made the start due to a gearbox problem which is now reported to be solved with spare parts arriving from Europe. The RS01 is powered by a Nissan 3.8 Godzilla engine with ‘massive’ horsepower. It previously hasn’t been able to compete as there is no road going version of this GT3, previously required as a condition of entry. However, the organisers have now allowed any FIA GT3 eligible cars to enter the series.
While unrestricted horsepower may be an advantage for some competitors, this will be tempered by a restriction of fuel allowed to be carried. For the first time in the series, fuel tank measurements will take place by scrutineers. With a limit of 120 litres, fuel ‘economy’ can be a factor over the three-hour race. The use of more HP will also mean a higher fuel use so teams will need to find a balance and spend minimal time in the pits.
While Neil Foster will not be on the grid, Jonny Reid will join Sam Fillmore in the ex-Track Tec Racing Audi R8 GT3 Evo. Up against it will be a new McLaren 720S GT3 (the next evolution of Glenn Smith’s McLaren 650S) with Andrew Fawcett and Daniel Gaunt at the wheel.
Three Nismo GT-R35s will be an unknown force with top driver combinations. Rhys Gould will partner with Gene Rollinson and Antony Leighs will team up with Tom Alexander driving the recently imported factory cars.
Having competed in the North Island series, Lance Hughes will have Chris van der Drift in the third GT-R which is expected to be quicker with more development work having taken place.
Scott O’Donnell and Martin Dippie’s Porsche 991 GT3R made a very brief appearance at the opening round of the 2019 South Island Endurance Series, only to be involved in a massive crash. Since then it has since been re-shelled and will again be seen on the grid in Christchurch.
Sam Collins and Nick Ross were very quick in the 2020 series in a MRX Mustang. While not a GT3, this year the combo are back but this time in a brand new MARC Mustang, built by MARC Cars in Australia. While they may not have the pace of the GT3 field, the car is built for endurance racing and should prove very reliable.
Also new to the South Island circuits is the Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo of Rowan Shepherd and Sean Hayes.
It is an exciting prospect for teams and fans. Fantastic driver pairings with a depth of experience and talent. Couple this with so many new and wonderful race cars, it all adds up to four rounds of of what could be one of the most competitive seasons for the very successful Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series.
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