Changeable conditions challenged competitors at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on Saturday during the first day of a two-day race meeting.
After qualifying in warm, dry conditions light rain fell for the early races on the programme before the track dried only to change again when steady rain fell late in the day.
The wet conditions changed the complexion of some of the races and in the OSCA Super Saloons it was Brian Scott of Dunedin who made the most of it, taking his Porsche 997 from third on the grid into an early lead, racing away to win by 11 seconds from fastest qualifier Cameron Jones of Palmerston North in his turbocharged Mazda RX7 with Cameron Davies of Waimate third in his Mazda RX8.
The South Island Formula Ford Championship competitors got the best of the conditions and Aucklander Seb Manson took the honours after a battle with Caleb Byers of Rolleston who led early before Manson got by. Byers finished second and Dylan Petch was third after a good battle with rookie Izaak Fletcher of Tai Tapu who received a 10 second start line penalty, dropping him to seventh.
The Pre 78 Classic Saloons also had a dry track for their race, Piers Mingham of Ashburton taking victory in his Escort MK1 ahead of Gavin Jackson of Dunedin in a Triumph 2500 while Monty McHaffie of Lyttleton grabbed third in his Ford Capri.
The 2K Cup South Island Championship came south for their first ever championship round at Teretonga Park with William McDonald of Christchurch in a Toyota Corolla winning from Greg Barclay of Woodend (Toyota MR2) and Michael Gunstone of Christchurch in a Honda Torneo after a restart was required following an incident.
The SS Cup was another class with a big field, James Black of Mosgiel in a Honda Civic winning by nearly 10 seconds despite a mid-race Safety Car period. Greg Wilson of Christchurch (Mazda RX8) was second ahead of Dave McLean of Balfour in his Honda Integra.
Corey Ross of Rolleston in his Mustang made a superb move around the loop in damp conditions on the opening lap of the Pre 65 Saloon race taking the lead just as Garry Price of Cromwell in his Chevy Nova SS spun. Ross raced away to win from Mark Burrows of Christchurch in a Chrysler Valiant with Tim McCullough of Christchurch third in his Anglia. Price recovered for fourth with pole sitter John Smolenski of Invercargill next in his XP Falcon.
The Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons looked as though they would also get a dry track but the rain returned during a delay after Dion Dawson and Liam MacDonald’s races both ended at the first corner. On a wet track after the restart Jordan Michels in the Marc Mustang won from Kyle Dawson in a Nissan Skyline with Jimmy Liemburg of Timaru in a Mazda MX5 third.
The fastest qualifier in Mini 7 South, Justin Neill, did not take the start of today’s race leaving Daniel Lamb to take the win from fellow Cantabrians Adam Box and Logan Pelling.
The Pro 8 NZ Saloons and NZ Six Saloons both had two races today, both in damp conditions. Invercargill driver Bradley Dawson qualified fastest and led all the way in the first with Jared Pyke of Rangiora second and Ben McConochie of Rolleston third. In the second, from a marble draw grid, Cory Stewart of Prebbleton won from McConochie and Corban Sprague of Timaru.
Mick Ross of Dunedin in a Commodore led early in the first NZ Six Saloon race but went straight ahead at the elbow mid-race, handing the lead to Cody Welch of Omakau in his Falcon. Ross recovered to place second behind Welch with Marty Russell of Dunedin in another Commodore third. In the second race featuring a reverse grid Ross made no mistake to win from Welch with Mike McCarthy of Dunedin (Commodore) third.
Racing continues tomorrow from 9.00am with twenty-three races throughout the day. A ticket for tomorrow’s action costs $30 while children 14 & under if accompanied by an adult are free.
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