Two separate One-Hour Carter’s Tyre Service South Island Endurance Series titles are up for grabs at the Timaru International Raceway, Timaru, on Saturday. The first of two One-Hour races will see 23 cars take to the grid with 16 having a mathematical chance of winning the Class 2&3 title, although, Sam Collins (Marc Mustang) (main photo) will be hard to beat having already won both rounds so far this season. In the separate race for the outright Class 4&5 title, Southland’s Scott O’Donnell (Hyundai i20N TCR) is the in-form driver having won the opening round and finished second three weeks ago on his home track.
Collins has a 14-point gap to Ronan Murphy (Porsche 991 Cup) and Heremana Malmezac (Porsche 991 MR) who are second equal, with Marco Schelp in fourth (Porsche 997 Cup S). Collins also leads Class 2 (GT Type) although 11 cars are also in contention.
Nigel Cromie (McLaren 570s GT4) leads Class 3 (>3500cc including GT4) from Grant Williams/Ben Williams (Toyota 86 V8) and Angus McFarlane/M Bushell (Porschevy 996 V8). Fourth and fifth are Grant Aitken and Oliver Saxton/Racing Ray Williams, both in GT4 Porsches’ which are likely to suit the tight Timaru circuit. With just 42-points covering the top five cars, the Class title will be hotly contested.
Scott O’Donnell leads Class 4 (2000-3500cc) and has a narrow 13-point lead over Mike Hall (VW Golf GTi TCR) for the overall Class 4&5 title with Warren Black (Audi RS3 LMS TCR) fast emerging also as a title contender, just seven-points behind Hall. Fourth overall and leading Class 5 (0-2000cc) is the ever-consistent Honda Civic of Brad Rule. Rule finished third overall in Round 1 and fourth in Round 2 to not only put himself in title contention but also hold a 21-point Class 5 lead over James Mitchell (Honda Civic) and Donovan Istead (Honda Civic).
Qualifying takes place at 9:00am (Class 4 & 5) and 9:25am (Class 2 & 3) with the Class 4 & 5 race starting at 10:20am and the Class 2 & 3 race at 11:40am.
Overall Points
Class 2 & 3 (Top 10 after 2/3 rounds)
1/ Sam Collins Ford Marc Mustang 190
2/ Ronan Murphy Porsche 991 Cup 176
3/ Heremana Malmezac, Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup MR 176
4/ M Schelp Porsche 997 Cup S 158
5/ Adam Julian Porsche 997 Cup 149
6/ Ben Byers Porsche 991 Cup 149
7/ Nigel Cromie McLaren 570s GT4 131
8/ Glenn Brazier Porsche 991 Cup 131
9/ Francois Beziac Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup MR 130
10/ G Willimas/B Williams Toyota GT86 V8 125
Class 4 & 5 (Top 10 after 2/3 rounds)
1/ S O’Donnell Hyundai TCR 185
2/ Mike Hall VW Golf TCR 172
3/ Warren Black Audi RS3 LMS TCR 165
4/ Brad Rule Honda Civic 158
5/ Daniel Cropp Honda Civic 2.4 146
6/ Denzil Travers Audi RS3 LMS TCR 146
7/ J Mitchell Honda Civic 126
8/ Marcus Barnett Seat Cupra TCR 120
9/ James Penrose Audi RS3 LMS TCR 115
10/ Donovan Istead Honda Civic 112
Comments