O’Donnell/Dippie in box-seat for Three-Hour South Island Endurance title

Scott O’Donnell and Allan Dippie (Porsche 991 GT3R) may have not won a race this season in the 2021 Carter’s Tyre Service South Island Endurance Series but have put themselves in both overall and Class E title contention by playing the long-game, finishing on the podium in all three races so far. The Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch plays host to the fourth and final round, on Saturday, in a Series in which finishing is a must for any title contenders. Overall and five separate Class titles will be decided.

Second overall is the consistently quick VW Golf GTi TCR of Grant and Cole Askew who also lead Class B (2001-3500cc). They have a narrow lead over another VW Golf TCR of Barry Moore and Tim Mackersy, in third place.

**Grant Askew/Cole Askew (VW Gold GTi TCR) who are second overall and leading Class B (2000-3500cc) photo by Terry Marshall**

The previous three rounds have produced three separate winners. Lance Hughes and Chris van der Drift (Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3) won the opening round held at the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. Since then, the team has been stuck behind the Covid-19 cordon in the Waikato and have not been able to venture south.

A similar Nissan of Anthony Leighs and Tom Alexander, on debut, won the second round in Timaru and then missed the third round, won by Glen Smith and Damon Leitch (McLaren 650S GT3) in Invercargill.

Leighs and Alexander are back for the finale as well as Smith and Leitch along with the podium winning Porsche GT3 of O’Donnell and Dippie.

***#28 Anthony Leighs/Tom Alexander, Nissan GTR3 returns for the final round Photo by Terry Marshall***

Leading Class D (GT Type) is the pairing of Darryl Barret and Hamish Frew (Ford V8 SuperTourer). They have a 60-point buffer over Steve Brooks (Porsche 991 Cup) who, up until the last round, was second overall and leading Class D. This all came undone when he and co-driver Jack Milligan were forced to retire with under five minutes remaining in the race. Proof that finishing is paramount.

Cameron Davies and Flyn Mitchell (Mazda RX8) have an unassailable lead in Class C (>3500cc), while Terence Phillips and Darryl Phillips just need to finish to wrap up the Class A title (Honda Civic).

***#96, Terence Phillip/Darryl Phillips, lead Class A – Photo by Terry Marshall***

Qualifying gets underway on Saturday morning at from 9am with two separate One-Hour races starting from 10:20am. The final Three-Hour race starts at 1:30pm. Spectators are welcome, only $20 at the gate with children under 16 free. Groups not attending together should maintain a distance of 1 metre between each other. Face masks are required upon entering the circuit and when accessing toilet facilities.

***#90 McLaren 650S GT3 of Glenn Smith and Damon Leitch – photo by Euan Cameron***

Overall Points – Three-Hour (Top 10)
Place, Name/s, Car, Class, Points
1/ S O’Donnell/A Dippie, Porsche 997 Cup S, E, 270
2/ G Askew/C Askew, VW Golf GTi TCR, B, 237
3/ T Mackersy/B Moore, VW Golf Gti TCR, B, 223
4/ J Parmenter/A Brunton, Mazda RX8, B, 207
5/ G Smith, McLaren 650S GT3, E, 201
6/ D Barrett/H Frew, Ford V8 Supertourer, D, 196
7/ R Mackersy/W Good, Renault Clio Cup Car, B, 186
8/ D Phillips/T Phillips, Honda Civic, A, 184
9/ S Brooks, Porsche 991 Cup, D, 184
10/ M Dippie, Porsche 997 Cup S, D, 178

Three-Hour Entry list

Number, Drivers, Class, Car

9, Marco Schelp/Jarrod Owens, D, Porsche GT3 Cup S
20, Jarrod Parmenter/Andrew Brunton, B, Mazda RX8
24, Don McIntyre/Rob Williams, D, Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
28, Anthony Leighs/Tom Alexander, E, Nissan GTR
31, Paul Rickerby/Graeme Rhodes, D, Ford V8 Supertourer
37, Ben Coffin/Cameron Jones, C, Mazda RX7
47, Cameron Davies/Flyn Mitchell, C, Mazda RX8
65, Grant Askew/Cole Askew, B, VW Golf GTi TCR
76, Andrew Kitching/Will Kitching, A, Honda Civic
79, Barry Moore/Tim Mackersy, B, Volkswagon Golf GTI TCR
81, Darryl Barrett/Hamish Frew, D, V8 SuperTourer
88, Bill Riding/Scott Flanagan, D, Porsche 991 Cup
90, Glenn Smith/Damon Leitch, E, McLaren 650S GT3
94, Tim Stanton/Leyton tremain, A Peugoet 106 Rallye
96, Terence Phillips/Darryl Phillips, A, Honda Civic
117, Russell McKenzie/Mike Hall, B, VW Golf GTi TCR
171, Grant Moore/Matt Moore, A, Toyota Altezza
215, Ben McConochie/Jared Pyke, B, Mazda RX8
275, Ron Mackersy/Warren Good, B, Renault Clio Cup Car
777, Sam Collins/Nick Ross, D, MARC Mustang
888, Steve Brooks/Jack Milligan, D, Porsche 991 Cup
912, Scott O’Donnell/Allan Dippie, E, Porsche 991 GT3R
991, Martin Dippie/Aaron Slight, D, Porsche 991.1 Cup