Christchurch driver Jack Milligan has extended his lead in the Toyota 86 Championship with victory in today’s opening race at Manfeild’s Circuit Chris Amon.
A crash marred Jack Milligan’s dominant run from pole to finish line today, but he’s pleased to bank more pints toward the title.
Milligan and Bramwell King made an all-CareVets Racing front row for the 10 lap race and though King slipped back as far as fourth, the pair ended up first and second with star rookie Peter Vodanovich third.
The race was disrupted in its closing laps when Jordan Baldwin crashed at the infield hairpin, dragging championship contender Connor Adam with him. Adam said he was well into the corner and didn’t see the Baldwin car coming.
The crash brought out the safety car as the Baldwin TR 86 was recovered by flatbed truck.
Baldwin said afterward his foot had slipped between brake and accelerator as he set the car for the corner and he couldn’t brake.
“I’ve never had that happen before. I couldn’t get my foot back up to brake, and then it was too late. Really sorry that the crash affected Connor’s race too, he’s racing for the championship and was going really well.”
The car finished up in the tyre barrier with its front right suspension torn off.
As Baldwin’s car was recovered, Adam regained the track with his car’s left side smashed in and completed the race at the rear of the field. The damage to the Adam car was less substantial and the team has less work ahead to rejoin the championship tomorrow morning.
The race finished under the safety car. Tomorrow the cars return to the track for a partial reverse grid race at 12.19.
Toyota 86 Championship race one
Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon
1 Jack Milligan
2 Bramwell King
3 Peter Vodanovich
4 Michael Scott
5 Jaden Ransley
6 Jacob Smith
7 Sam Wright
8 Brock Gilchrist
9 Connor Adam
10 Jordan Baldwin
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