Superb GT3 rivalry in South Island Endurance Series to continue at Teretonga

Having narrowly won the opening round of the 2022 Three-Hour Carter’s Tyre Service South Island Endurance Series in Christchurch, Sam Fillmore and Johnny Reid (Audi R8 LMS Evo GT3) have proved to be the team to beat at Teretonga Park, Invercargill, this weekend. Reid is no stranger to winning the Series and Fillmore has plenty of endurance experience. Yet, they will have their work cut-out this Saturday with some of the best GT3 competition the Series has ever seen.

The hard charging Andrew Fawcett/Daniel Gaunt (McLaren 720S GT3) were a close second in Round One and should have won albeit for a spin soon after the start brought about by another competitor.

***The hard charging Andrew Fawcett/Daniel Gaunt (McLaren 720S GT3) were a close second in Round One – Photo Terry Marshall***

As the Series has shown before, you don’t have to win to take out the title, first you have to finish and preferably on the podium. Hence the Paul and Ant Pedersen (Mercedes Benz AMG GT3) challenge should not be discounted after the recently crowned North Island Series champions finished third in Christchurch.

The Nissan GTR Nismo GT3 of Lance Hughes/Chris Ven Der Drift had a strong showing in Christchurch but their charge to the podium came undone with a steering issue with just 35 minutes remaining. Also, to strike unfortunate trouble, was the Brabham BT62 of Dwayne and Matt Carter. The seriously gorgeous and quick Brabham is very capable of finishing on the podium, adding to this season’s rivalry at the pointy end of the field.

***Recently crowned North Island Series champions, Paul and Ant Pedersen (Mercedes Benz AMG GT3) challenge should not be discounted – Photo Terry Marshall***

Current Three-Hour title holders, Scott O’Donnell/Allan Dippie (Porsche 991 GT3R), could not back up last season’s consistent finishing having retired out of the Christchurch round. Now at their home circuit, don’t be surprised by their competitiveness on Saturday.

As well as overall positions, there are also five separate Class titles at stake. Fillmore and Reid lead Class 1 (GT3) while Heremana Malmezac/Jono Lester (Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup MR) are ahead of some very quick Porsche in Class 2 (GT Type).

**The Brabham BT62 of Matt and Dwayne Carter stuck trouble with their left front wheel in Round 1 – Photo Terry Marshall**

Marco Giltrap/Simon Evans (Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport) had a strong Round 1 to lead Class 3 (3501cc and over, including FIA GT4 spec cars) while Grant Askew/Cole Askew (VW Golf GTi TCR) lead Class 4 (2001-3500cc).

All five Class 5 (0-2000cc) cars finished the opening round with Ben Silcock/Andre Simon (Honda CRX 2.0) beating home Terence Phillips/Darryl Phillips (Honda Civic 2.0).

Testing takes place on Friday with a 15min qualifying session at 9:50am Saturday morning and the race set to go at 1:30pm.

***Hayden Knighton and Kane Lawson’s impressive Mercedes Benz AMG GT3 in the pits at Ruapuna – Photo Terry Marshall***

Three Hour Entry List
Car No. Driver No. 1 Driver No. 2 Location CC Class Car
19 Dwayne Carter/Matt Carter Auckland 5000 1 Brabham B62
20 Andrew Brunton/Jarrod Parmenter Timaru 2354 4 Mazda RX8
24 Barry Moore/James Paterson Queenstown 1984 4 Audi R8
27 Sam Fillmore/Jonny Reid Auckland 5200 1 Audi R8 Evo 2
31 Graeme Rhodes/Paul Rickerby Christchurch 5400 2 Marc II Mustang
33 Paul Pedersen/Anthony Pedersen Mt Maunganui 6200 1 Mercedes AMG GT3
61 David Rogers/Brian Green, Auckland/Palmerston Nth 3800T 2 McLaren 570 GT4
64 Marco Giltrap/Simon Evans Auckland 3800 2 Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport
65 Grant Askew/Cole Askew Rolleston 3373 4 VW Golf GTi TCR
76 Andrew Kitching/Will Kitching Timaru 2000 5 Toyota GT86
81 Darryl Barrett/Hamish Frew Christchurch 7000 2, Ford Falcon FG V8 Supertourer
84 Lance Hughes/Chris Van Der Drift Hamilton 6480 1 Nissan GTR GT3
88 Steve Brooks/Bill Riding, Christchurch 4000 2 Porsche 992 Cup
89 Hayden Knighton/Kane Lawson Christchurch 6200 1 Mercedes AMG GT3
90 Glenn Smith/John DeVeth Taranaki 6460 1 McLaren 570S GT3
96 Terence Phillips/Darryl Phillips Ashburton 1998 5 Honda Civic
101 Andrew Fawcett/Daniel Gaunt Auckland 3995T 1 McLaren 720 S
117 Mike Hall/Clark Scott Queenstown 3373 4 VW Golf GTi TCR
171 Grant Moore Matt Moore Christchurch 1999 5 Toyota Altezza
417 Ben Silcock/Andre Simon Frankton 2000 5 Honda CRX
620 David Cremer/Jason Liefting Wellington/Auckland 6458 3 McLaren 570S GT4
909 Francois Beziac/Tom Alexander Auckland 3996 2 Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup MR
910 Heremana Malmezac/Jono Lester, Queenstown/Taupo 3996, 2, Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup MR
912 Scott O’Donnell/Allan Dippie, Invercargill/Dunedin 4941 2 Porsche 991 GT3R