Thunder rolled in to Teretonga Park in Invercargill today as the action began at Southern Thunder, the Southland Sports Car Club’s NZ Super Truck and Mainland Muscle Car meeting.
Five-time New Zealand champion and current championship leader, Troy Wheeler, bounced back from an early setback when his Freightliner Century ground to a halt during an early morning test session to win the opening race of Round 3 of the NZ Super Truck Championship. Wheeler, of Hicks Bay, crossed the line 4.195 seconds ahead of Pukekohe driver David West in a Freightliner Argosy with former three-time champion Malcolm Little of Wellington third in another Freightliner.
The Mobil 1 Mainland Muscle Cars provided a superb race to start their weekend with a good battle between Steve Scoles, Brendan Mason and John Hepburn at the front of the field. Scoles of Dunedin took victory in his Chev Camaro just .059 of a second ahead of Mason of Invercargill in another Camaro with Hepburn of Timaru right behind in his Holden Monaro.
Invercargill driver John Smolenski won the Pre 65 Saloon race in his Falcon from Christchurch drivers, Corey Ross (Mustang) and Wayne Patrick (Falcon).
Liam MacDonald carried on his winning way in the Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons leading home Bruce Davidson of Alexandra in his Chev C6R Corvette and Dunedin’s Brian Scott in his new Porsche GT3 with Jordan Michels of Invercargill in his Honda TCR car fourth. Michels also qualified fastest for tomorrow’s A1 Auto Services 1 Hour race
Wellington driver Simon Baker took the Mazda Racing Series race from Matt Horne of Masterton with Cantabrian Matt Dodd in third.
The action resumes tomorrow (Sunday) at 9.00am with a full day of racing. Tickets for Sunday’s action are just $25 with children 14 & under accompanied by an adult free.
Main photo: David West of Pukekohe leads the NZ Super Truck field with eventual winner Troy Wheeler of Hicks Bay coming through the traffic in his Freightliner Century #1 at Teretonga Park
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