Ryan Wood and Dennis Chapman have emerged as the overall title winners in the One-Hour Carter’s Tyre Service South Island Endurance Series after the final round at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch. While it may have looked easy, Wood had to work hard for his fourth race victory in the separate Class C (>3500cc) and D (GT) category. Dennis Chapman finished second in the Class A (0-2000cc) and B (2001-3500cc) race to tie on points with Scott O’Donnell but was awarded the overall title on a count back.
Wood (Porsche 991 Cup Car) was fastest in qualifying and immediately took charge of the 60-minute race from Jarrod Owens (Porsche GT3 Cup S) and Marco Schelp (Porsche 997 Cup S). This order was interrupted by a safety car period just before the halfway mark which saw all the field, except Woods, dive into pitlane for their compulsory pitstop. Wood was caught up behind the safety car and then missed a team radio call due to race-radio talk. Once pitted, Wood then found himself at the back of a 22-car queue with Owens taking over the lead from Schelp, Jordon Michels (MARC Ford Focus V8) and Sam Collins (MARC Mustang).
He then set about moving through the field and catching both Owens and Schelp, who had passed the former to take the lead. Wood got the job done, inheriting the lead with just four-minutes remaining and just in time before a safety car period which saw the race finish under the yellow (caution) flag.
“That was very hard work,” commented Wood. “The team did a mega job today. Unfortunately, we just missed the pit window and to make it even worse Race Radio was talking, and I missed the call from the team. It is what it is, and end the end we got what we wanted. I really didn’t think that we would catch Marco (Schelp), can’t believe it after being right at the end of the train.”
“Ryan (Wood) is so much better,” said Schelp, who was more than happy with second both in the race and overall. “The competition, compared with last year, is just amazing. So many of the field have improved and that is what you want. Thrilled with second, it’s been fantastic.”
In Class D, Bruce Davidson (Chev Corvette C6R) had effectively won the title before the start of the final round. Davidson had an unbeatable lead over Chris Henderson (Toyota 86 V8) who did not take part due to engine trouble leading up to the finale. Davidson finished 21st overall in the race and fifth in Class with Gavin Williams/Ben Williams (Mazda RX 8 V8) home first in Class D and eighth overall.
While Dennis Chapman may have won the title, it was Rhys Gould (Hyundai i30N TCR) who was the ‘class-act’ of the Class A & B race, twice lapping the entire field to take his third win from three races. Not having started in the opening round due to waiting for parts, Gould was never in title contention but has come away knowing he is the fastest and has momentum heading to the national championships in April.
“We couldn’t make the first round as we were waiting for gearbox parts to arrive which is a bit of a shame,” commented Gould. “It was a team effort, everyone has done their bit. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and now looking forward to the national champs.”
Gould’s lead was never in question but the race behind him was for the title and overall podium positions. Heading into the round, Scott O’Donnell (Hyundai i30N TCR) had a four-point lead over Chapman (Audi RS3 LMS TCR) with Debbie Chapman (Audi RS3 LMS TCR) third, three-points ahead of Mike Hall (VW GTi TCR). O’Donnell initially held second ahead of Dennis Chapman, but his title hopes came undone when he was issued with a drive through penalty for passing under a yellow (caution) flag.
“It is what it is, I never saw the flag,” said O’Donnell. “The officials saw it and I didn’t but that is life. You are racing so close with other cars and you don’t see everything. The irony of it all is that it was my son I passed (under yellow).
“It’s been a great battle with Dennis. The cars are all the same and he has driven very well.”
With Chapman finishing second ahead of O’Donnell in third, the two finished tied on points. With neither party having won a race in the four-round series, the title was awarded to Chapman who had the highest finishing result, second at the final round.
“I really enjoyed it particularly the first few laps with Scott,” said Dennis Chapman. “My tyres were getting quite worn near the end. They do run out particularly if you push them hard, so I have been trying to back off.”
In the fight with for third overall between Hall and Debbie Chapman, the two had an unfortunate coming together after six-laps. While Hall took an impact in the side of his Golf, Chapman was forced to retire with front-end damage, effectively handing the third overall spot to Hall.
In Class A, Tim Dossett (Honda Civic) came into the round with a handy 17-point lead over William Taylor (Honda Integra). A fast but conservative strategy saw him finish third in Class and ninth overall, enough to take the title.
“It was busy at the start, I haven’t had much luck here in the past, so I just had to finish, that was the plan. It’s the first time I have won it after trying for four years. I have been leading going into the last round before and had something happen, so it was a matter of laying safe.”
The impact of Covid-19 has brought about the postponement of the NZ Endurance Championship due to take place 19-20 November 2021 at Hampton Downs. This will now take place 8-9 April 2022.
Class A & B Points Table (Top 10)
Place, Name, Car, Class, Points
1/ Dennis Chapman, Audi RS3 LMS TCR, B, 340
2/ S O’Donnell, Hyundai TCR, B, 340
3/ M Hall, VW Golf TCR, B, 306
4/ R Gould, Hyundai TCR, B, 285
5/ T Dossett, Honda Civic EF, A, 270
6/ R Gjaja, Lotus Exige turbo, B, 262
7/ M Barnett, Cupra TCR, B, 258
8/ W Taylor, Honda Integra, A, 253
9/ B Rule, Honda Civic, A, 251
10/ Debbie Chapman, Audi RS3 LMS TCR, B, 240
Class C & D Points Table (Top 10)
Place, Name, Car, Class, Points
1/ R Wood, Porsche 991 Cup Car, D, 380
2/ Marco Schelp, Porsche 997 Cup S, D, 342
3/ J Owens, Porsche GT3 Cup S, D, 336
4/ J Michels, Marc Ford Focus V8, D, 310
5/ B Derrick/G Derrick, Porsche 991 GT3, D, 286
6/ A Dippie, Porsche GT3 Cup S, D, 256
7/ B Byers, Porsche 991, D, 251
8/ Bruce Davidson, Chev Corvette C6R, C, 243
9/ G Aitken, Porsche GT3, D, 230
10/ S Scoles, Ginetta G55, D, 226
One-Hour Class A & B Race results
Place, #, Driver/s, Class, Vehicle
1/ 5, Rhys Gould, B, Hyundai i30N TCR
2/ 22, Dennis Chapman, B, Audi TCR LMS
3/ 200, Scott O’Donnell, B, Hyundai i30N
4/ 199, Marcus Barnett, B, Seat Leon
5/ 117, Mike Hall, B, Volkswagon Golf Gti 35
6/ 21, Patrick Heagney/Ryan Heagney, B, Toyota Sprinter
7/ 10, Brad Rule, A, Honda Civic
8/ 115, Mark Meadows, A Lotus Exige
9/ 119, Tim Dossett, A, Honda Civic
10/ 99, William Taylor, A, Honda Type R
11/ 111, Matthew O’Donnell, B, BMW M1 GTR
12/ 32, James Mitchell, A, Honda Civic Type R
13/ 61, Jordan Rae, A, Honda Civic
14/ 216, Josh Ward/Shane Roughan, A, Honda Civic
15/ 114, Chris Mackie, B, Mazda RX8
16/ 193, Warren Black, B, Renault Clio
17/ 88, Sam Wallace, B, Mazda RX8
18/ 17, Robert Gjaja, B, Lotus Exige
19/ 224, Bryce Mitchell/Alan Turner, A, Toyota Starlet
20/ 8, Harrison O’Donnell/Blake Knowles, B, Mini Cooper S
21/ 24, James Paterson, A, Toyota 86
22/ 95,Dean Cook, A, Honda Integra
23/ 94, Tim Stanton, A, Peugeit 106 Rallye
24/ 123, Peter Bennetts, B, VW Golf
DNF 56, Daniel Cropp, B, Honda Civic SIR
DNF 64, Clark Scott, A, Honda Integra Type R
DNF 223, Debbie Chapman, B, Audi TCR LMS
DNS 91, Andrew Gibson/Paul Booth, A, Honda Civic
DNS 183, Steven Kelly, B, BMW E46 M3 GTR
One-Hour Class C & D Results
Place, No, Driver/s, Class, Vehicle
1/ 40, Ryan Wood, D, Porsche 991 Cup Car
2/ 9, Marco Schelp, D, Porsche GT3 Cup S
3/ 13, Jarrod Owens, Porsche GT3 997 Cup S
4/ 777, Sam Collins, D, MARC Mustang
5/ 888 S Brooks/J Milligan, D, Porsche
6/ 148, Garry Derrick/Ben Derrick, D, Porsche 991.2
7/ 23, Jordan Michels, D, Ford Focus MARC
8/ 6, Grant Williams/Ben Williams, C, Toyota GT86
9/ 991, Martin Dippie, D, Porsche 991.1
10/ 7, A McFarlane/M Bushell, D,Porsche V8
11/ 88, B Riding/S Flanagan, D, Porsche
12/ 256, Ben Byers, Porsche 991.2 GT3
13/ 84, Adam Julian, D, Ginetta G55 GT4
14/ 58, Steve Scoles, D, Ginetta G55 GT4
15/ 112, Lindsay O’Donnell, C, McLaren GT4 570S
16/ 83, John Buchanan, D, Porsche Cayman GT4
17/ 185, Martin Neill, D, Porsche 997.2 GT3 Cup
18/ 74, Rick Matheson/Liam Matheson, C, Mazda RX7
19/ 11, Grant Aitken, D, Porsche 981 GT4
20/ 25, John Wadsworth, C, Chev Cruze
21/ 35, Bruce Davidson, C, Chev Corvette C6R
22/ 1, Aaron Slight, Porsche
23/ 911, Allan Dippie, D, Porsche GT3 Cup S
24/ 97, Hamish Wilton/David Nixon, C, Holden Commodore
DNF 30, Mana Malmezac, D, Porsche Cayman GT4
DNF 43, Brayden Phillips, D, Ford Falcon SuperTourer
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