Dan Kelly too quick, wins One-Hour South Island (Class 4& 5) race in Christchurch

| Photographer Credit: Richard Opie Photography

Christchurch’s Dan Kelly (BMW M3 E46) was too quick for the One-Hour Class 4 & 5 field easily winning the opening McDermid Auto Collective Round of the 2025 South Island Endurance Series held at the Euromarque Motorsport Park in Christchurch on Saturday.  Second home was the experienced Chris Wall (Honda Civic Type R) ahead of Duncan Cundall-Curry (BMW M1 GTR E87) and Donovan Isted (Honda Civic).

Kelly (main photo) first set the fastest lap in qualifying early on Saturday morning, three seconds quicker than Wall with Cundall-Curry a close third behind.

Second home was the experienced Chris Wall (Honda Civic Type R), also first in Class 5

Once underway, race was punctuated by safety car periods and red flags which eventually resulted in the race finishing under a yellow caution safety car period.

Kelly immediately took the lead from the start and, fortunately for him, pitted just before the first safety car period for a car stopped out on the circuit.  Pitstops during a safety car period are forbidden in the One-Hour but not in the Three-Hour races.

Duncan Cundall-Curry (BMW M1 GTR E87) was third overall and second in Class 4

Kelly emerged in second behind Isted, who still had to stop, and resumed the lead once all cars had completed their pitstops.

With approximately 14 mins left, once again the field came under safety car conditions after the #109 Toyota 86 of Andrew Powell left the track.

On resumption, Kelly continued to lead while Wall, Cundall-Curry and Isted fought for the remaining podium places with ten minutes left.

Donovan Isted (Honda Civic) was fourth overall and second in Class 5

Then with less than four minutes remaining, the safety car re-emerged taking the field through to the chequered flag after Conley Webley (BMW Z4 M Coupe) hit the bank at Turn 11, burying his car in the sand.

Drivers and teams now prepare for the Brazier Scaffolding second round at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on Saturday 4 October 2025.

Race Results – One Hour Class 4 & 5
(Position, Driver, Car, Class)
1/ Dan Kelly, BMW M3 E46, 4
2/ Chris Wall, Honda Civic Type R, 5
3/ Duncan Cundall-Curry, BMW M1 GTR E87, 4
4/ Donovan Isted, Honda Civic, 5
5/ James Mitchell, Honda Civic, 5
6/ P Booth/D Booth, BMW 318TI, 5
7/ Nathan Grammer, Toyota 86 GR, 4
8/ Mac Templeton, Mazda RX8, 4
9/ Toby Elmiger, Toyota 86, 5
10/ Andrew Bartlett, Honda Integra, 5
11/ Mal Walters, Mazda RX8, 4
DNF Conley Webley, BMW Z4 M Coupe, 4
DNF Andrew Powell, Toyota 86, 5
DNF Nieko Scoles, Mazda MX5, 5

Benjamin Carrell is a freelance motorsport writer and currently edits talkmotorsport.co.nz. He writes for a number of Kiwi drivers and motorsport clubs. That's when he's not working in his horticultural day-job or training for the next road or mtb cycle race!

https://talkmotorsport.co.nz

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