We have just seen the final round of the 2019 Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance Series take place in Christchurch. In 2014 It was Timaru International Raceway that hosted the third and final round of the ASKO Endurance Series. Here’s how it unfolded five years ago…..(Note: There are quite a few names (and cars) that are still competing today)
Bagnall/Pedersen take titles at Timaru endurance round
Rain in the latter half of the ASKO 3 Hour Endurance Series race at Timaru on Saturday may have dampened the result but not the outcome of the overall championship. The driver pairing of Andrew Bagnall and Ant Pedersen (Porsche GT3) (main picture) finished third gaining enough points to take out the championship and the New Zealand 3 Hour Endurance title. Paul Kelly /Craig Baird(Porsche GT3) won the shortened race from Jono Lester/Robin Gray (Ferrari F430 Challenge) after officials finished the race under safety car conditions after 2 hours 41 minutes due to heavy wet weather.
“We’re happy with the win and second overall,” commented Kelly. “It would have been good to have won the series for a fourth consecutive year, but Andrew’s (Bagnall) car is just quicker.”
A strong fourth place went to the NZ V8 SuperTourer Prototype of John De Veth/Glen Smith with Sam Fillmore/Danny Stutterd (Porsche 997 Cup) fifth although a spin on the start finish straight in the rain almost had them in the wall. Fifth home was Allan Dippie/Scott O’Donnell (Porsche GT3 Cup S) giving them third overall in the Championship behind Kelly/Baird.
“We just had to shadow Baird,” commented Pedersen. “I initially didn’t feel that going to wets (tyres) was on but that proved to be the right move. We had everything to lose and nothing to gain. Jono (Lester) was hustling pretty hard so I let him go as I didn’t want to risk it. You don’t like finishing third but we came here to win the championship.”
Even though dry cool conditions greeted the drivers for the first half of the race, there were a number of early retirements particularly from the GT Class. First to lose drive was the Carters V8 Supercar Ford Falcon while leading the race, after 22 laps.
Following, another 21 laps later, was the Inky Tulloch/Grant Aitken Chev Camaro GT3, also with loss of drive while in the lead..
It was a race of two halves and when rain started falling at the halfway mark cars pitted with the help of a safety car when the #37 Toyota GT86 of Craig McDermid/Pat McDermid hit the wall after an altercation with a leading car. Some had already under gone their driver change several laps earlier and took another opportunity to put on wet tyres.
Eventual winner Paul Kelly timed his one and only stop with Craig Baird driving to the finish with a new set of wets.
Jono Lester showed his endurance skills in the rain and passed Pedersen for second. The Ferrari came into its own after the two hour mark threatening to take the lead.
“The race really came to us as the track got wetter,” commented Lester.. “We knew that his car is good in the rain but haven’t had a chance to test it. As the rain got harder we gained which was good. It’s been a lot of fun today and I’m really happy for the team. We have had a real run of rotten luck in the series. The team is new to motorsport so it’s a great result from the weekend.”
A spin by Lester while attempting to go round a slower driver and passing Baird resulted in officials revisiting the conditions which were eventually deemed too wet with the chequered flag coming out at the 2 hour 41 minute mark handing the win to Kelly/Baird.
First home in Class 1 and seventh in the race was the Mazda RX7 of Graeme Rhodes/Brent Buist, with Rhodes the overall series winner.
Right behind them was first in Class 2 and overall class champion Guy Stewart/Mike Driver (Seat Super Coba).
Arron Black/Stuart Black (BMW E46) were first home in Class 3/ 4 in ninth but Garry Cliff/Hayden Knighton were overall winners of the class, finishing the race in 11th.
Overall results (Top 3)
GT Class
1/ Andrew Bagnall/Ant Pedersen 296 points
2/ Paul Kelly/Craig Baird 295
3/ Allan Dippie/Scott O’Donnell 257
Class 1
1/ Graeme Rhodes 230 points
2/ Hamish Frew/Darryl Barret 225
3/ David Garden/Bruce Davidson 146
Class 2
1/ Guy Stewart/Mike Diver 305 points
2/ Anthony Tucker/Adam Glass 286
3/ Jim Wallace/Stephen Grellet 204
Class 3 / 4
1/ Garry Cliff/Hayden Knighton 300 points
2/ Paul Coghill/Kyan Yu 286
3/ Ken Sinclair 264
In the One Hour Series it was Hugh Gardiner who took the spoils….
Dominant Gardiner crowned One Hour Endurance Champion
Auckland’s Hugh Gardiner has won the 2014 ASKO One Hour Endurance Championship and the New Zealand One Hour Endurance title after a dominant performance at Timaru International Motor Raceway on Saturday. Second home and overall was Christchurch’s Hayden Knighton with the driver pairing of Sam Fillmore and Danny Stutterd third.
Fourth home was the Ferrari F430 Challenge car of Gerald Trass/Robin Gray followed by Phil Hood (Porsche GT3), Tim O’Connor (Ferrari 458 Challenge), Patrick Heagney/Ryan Heagney (Toyota AE86 ) and Sue McLaughlin (Porsche GT3).
Gardiner proved too strong over the three round ASKO Series which started at Teretonga Park, Invercargill in September with the second round at Ruapuna, Christchurch, a fortnight ago.
Three pole positions, three lap records and three round wins have ticked all the boxes for Gardiner. “For me the championship has just been fantastic,” commented Gardiner (Porsche GT3 Cup). “I’ve really enjoyed being part of it. We only put the package together six weeks before the first round and the car had its first run at practice at Teretonga. Overall we have had a lot of fun.”
Knighton finished second to Gardiner at all three rounds with luck on his side at Timaru. After the compulsory pitstop, Knigthon came out third behind Chris Henderson (Toyota Corolla AE86) and twice came close to passing and regaining second. Having eventually settled behind Henderson and conceding that he wouldn’t get passed, the driveshaft of the Henderson’s Corolla went on the last lap gifting Knighton a higher finish and Henderson a DNF.
“We’re very happy to have finished and very lucky to take second today,” commented Knighton. “We just wanted to finish. Chris was quicker today but unlucky!”
Twenty-nine cars took to the grid in dry cool conditions which saw two safety car periods in the 60 minute race. Just after 15 minutes debris on the track brought a flood of drivers into the pits for their compulsory pitstop.
After 36 minutes #151 Darryn Andrews (Nissan Primera) gearbox let go dropping oil and causing the car to spin into the inside wall on the start/finish straight.
The Fillmore/Stutterd Porsche GT3 Cup elected not to pit during the first safety car period. “We didn’t exactly get our strategy right,” commented Fillmore. “However the race played into our hands and we are thrilled to have finished third.”
Johnny Waldron (Nissan Skyline R32) was the first Class 1 car home in 14th position. This was enough to win the series title from Alyssa Clapperton (Commodore) who finished the round in 20th position.
Seventh in the round and first Class 2 car was Pat Heaney/Ryan Heagney (Toyota AE86). They won the overall title from Warren Good (BMW E30) and Adam Glass (BMW E30 M3).
Stuar Black was the first Class 3 /4 car home in 10th but the overall title was won by Gary Ponting/Barry Moore (Honda Civic) from Mark Denton (BMW 320i) and Ian Wooster (Mazda MX5).
Overall results (Top 3)
GT Class
1/ Hugh Gardiner 305 points
2/ Hayden Knighton 290
3/ Sam Fillmore/Danny Stutterd 278
Class 1
1/ Johnny Waldron 291 points
2/ Alyssa Clapperton 278
3/ Chris Henderson 230
Class 2
1/ Pat Heagney/Ryan Heagney 305 points
2/ Warren Good 286
3/ Adam Glass 267
Class 3 / 4
1/ Gary Ponting/Barry Moore 295 points
2/ Marc Denton 274
3/ Ian Wooster 260
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