Anthony Leighs/Tom Alexander (Nissan GT-R GT3) have easy won the second round of the Carter’s Tyre Service Three-Hour South Island Endurance Series – Presented by Michelin. Debuting a new Nissan GT-R GT3 in New Zealand, the pairing lapped the entire field, beating home Scott O’Donnell/Allan Dippie (Porsche 991 GT3R) with Martin Dippie/Hayden Paddon (Porsche 991.1 Cup) third, at the Timaru International Raceway on Saturday.
“Fantastic,” commented Anthony Leighs. “It may have looked easy, but it wasn’t. It is a wonderful car, fabulous to drive with plenty of power, enormous torque and a great team around us.”
Initially it was the McLaren 650S GT3 of Glenn Smith/Damon Leitch that led the field away, followed by Anthony Leighs, Scott O’Donnell, the Sam Collins/Nick Ross Ford Mustang MARC, Hayden Paddon and Steve Brooks/Jack Milligan (Porsche 991 Cup). Ten minutes later Leighs took the lead and control of the race, setting about lapping the field while others fought over the remaining podium positions.
While the field seem to settle into a rhythm, O’Donnell’s Porsche and Smith’s McLaren scrapped over second position until the 75-minute mark when the McLaren took a scheduled pitstop and lost time with refuelling. Unfortunately, now with Damon Leitch in the car, the McLaren then retired from the race with a right rear suspension problem, effectively gifting second place to O’Donnell/Dippie.
“Very happy with that result,” said O’Donnell. “We are definitely playing the long game so a good result. It’s a pity that Glenn (Smith) couldn’t finish as we had a good race. The car did everything it should do.”
The Sam Collins/Nick Ross Marc Mustang was a consistent top four runner with a podium insight until they retired with just 40 minutes remaining. This gave third place and first in Class D (GT) to Martin Dippie/Hayden Paddon. The ex World Rally Championship very much enjoying the circuit experience.
“I enjoyed it today,” said Paddon. “It’s a bit different driving one of these cars with a different driving style. Thrilled for Martin to bring it home for a podium.”
“I was very pleased to get the car home,” said Martin Dippie. “As we haven’t had much luck in finishing. Last round it was a drive belt, this morning (One-Hour race) it was a an exhaust header which fell off.”
First home in Class B (2000-350cc) and fifth overall was Barry Moore/Tim Mackersy (VW Golf GTI TCR) in a tight battle with Grant Askew/Cole Askew (VW Golf GTI TCR).
“Was very pleasing to get the (Class B) win,” commented Barry Moore. “At Highland’s we had a comfortable lead only for it to come undone with a mechanical so really good to come back today.
Father and son pairing, Will and Andrew Kitching (Honda Civic), took their second Class A (0-2000cc) win despite a number of issues during the three-hour race.
“Great to have the (Class A) win,” said Will Kitching. “It went all right in a straight line, but we had a couple of issues in the corners that we need to sort before the next round.”
Nissan is proving the car to beat in the four-round series after the Lance Hughes/Chris van der Drift Nissan GT-R GT3 won the opening round at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell a fortnight ago. Having returned home to Hamilton, the Hughes team found themselves stuck under Level 3 lock down, unable to compete in Timaru but hope to compete with the Leighs/Alexander Nissan at Teretonga Park in a week’s time.
Teams now have a quick turnaround time with the third of four rounds taking place at the Teretonga Park Raceway in Invercargill next Sunday 24 October 2021.
Race Results
Place, #, Class, Drivers, Car
1/ 28, E, Anthony Leighs/Tom Alexander, Nissan GTR3
2/ 912, E, Scott O’Donnell/Allan Dippie, Porsche 991 GT3R
3/ 991, D, Martin Dippie/Hayden Paddon, Porsche 991.1 Cup
4/ 888, D, Steve Brooks/Jack Milligan, Porsche 991 Cup
5/ 79, B, Barry Moore/Tim Mackersy, Volkswagon Golf GTI TCR
6/ 65, B, Grant Askew/Cole Askew, Seat Supacopa Leon
7/ 215, B, Ben McConochie/Jared Pyke, Mazda RX8
8/ 20, B, Jarrod Parmenter/Andrew Brunton, Mazda RX8
9/ 81, D, Darryl Barrett/Hamish Frew, V8 SuperTourer
10/ 76, A, Andrew Kitching/Will Kitching, Honda Civic
11/ 275, B, Ron Mackersy/Warren Good, Renault Clio Cup Car
12/ 96, A, Terence Phillips/Darryl Phillips, Honda Civic
DNF, 88, D, Bill Riding/Scott Flanagan, Porsche 991 Cup
DNF, 24, D, Don McIntyre/Rob Williams, Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Car
DNF, 171, A, Grant Moore/Matt Moore, Toyota Altezza
DNF, 777, D, Sam Collins/Nick Ross, Marc Mustang
DNF, 31, D, Paul Rickerby/Graeme Rhodes, Ford V8 Supertourer
DNF, 47, C, Cameron Davies/Flyn Mitchell, Mazda RX8
DNF, 90, E, Glenn Smith/Damon Leitch, McLaren 650S GT3
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