Several newcomers made their entry level motorsport debuts when Round 4 of the Evolution Motorsport ClubSport Championship took place at Teretonga Park on Saturday.
Conditions were damp, particularly for the morning motorkhana, which featured two seal tests and one on grass.
Six newcomers debuted in the motorkhana, father and son Nick and 15-year-old Nicklaus Tutini, Joshua Coats and Kaylee Martin, 14-year-old Ricky Smith and Aston Lang, all acquitting themselves very well in the tricky conditions. Most of the newcomers took advantage of the Evolution Motorsport Nissan Sentra that is available for a small fee.
Andrew Kennedy of Invercargill in a Toyota Starlet won both seal courses and finished second on the grass to take the overall win from Craig Allan (Honda Shuttle) Josh Cooper (Toyota Corolla) and Neil Allan, also in the Honda Shuttle, who won the grass test, followed by Gregg Cooper, Liam MacDonald and Cindy Cooper.
Later in the day Liam MacDonald of Invercargill won the Autocross in his Nissan Pulsar, snatching the best time from Josh Cooper in his last run of the day, with Andrew Lawrie of Invercargill third in his Mitsubishi Mirage. Rookie, Aston Lang, entered the Autocross in the Evolution Motorsport Nissan Sentra and put in a fine performance. Nineteen drivers contested the motorkhana with sixteen in the Autocross.
MacDonald still sits atop the points of both championships, leading the Motorkhana Championship from Craig Allan and Josh Cooper while the same trio are at the top of the overall Sprint points for Autocross events. Cooper leads the Discount Tyres 0-1600cc class from Zac Murch and David Richardson while MacDonald leads Allan and Anthony Ralston in the Stresscrete Southland 1601cc & over class.
The next round of the championship will take place on Sunday 30 Januarybut first there is a non-championship Autocross on the grass at Teretonga Park on Sunday 12 December. Southland Sports Car Club ClubSport co-ordinator, Malcolm Mitchell says the grass autocross will be fantastic for anyone to have a go at, particularly newbies. The course will be very similar to the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, home of the British Grand Prix. Anyone 12 years of age and over can take part.
Comments