Mitch Sparrow heads a V8 Utes thriller at Taupo (Day 2)

Mitch Sparrow certainly had a weekend to remember. After topping qualifying then winning Race One on Saturday, Mitch (main photo) was on a roll in the Core V8 Utes. On Sunday morning, Glen Collinson stole the show winning Race Two. Then Mitch saved his best for last winning Race Three in the afternoon. Mitch won the round, an awesome achievement especially with three former champions Peter Ward, Glen Collinson and Brad Kroef were on fire all weekend. Here’s how Sunday unfolded.

Race Two was a reverse grid format, unleashing a spirited session of tight racing and overtaking. Glen Collinson went from starting tenth to claim the lead in just three laps. Mitch Sparrow performed a similar feat, rising from 11^th to second, but not before a lap-by-lap duel with tenacious racer Peter Ward who settled for third.

Daniel Ludlam was under pressure after starting up front, managing to hold off the massively-experienced Glen Collinson until midway from lap three. Then, he was under attack from another V8 Utes veteran, Peter Ward. Pressure.

Starting back in the mid-field, it took Peter three laps to get around Geoff Spencer. Just behind them, Mitch Sparrow was on the move, pouncing on Daniel Ludlam midway through lap six, then he picked-off Peter Ward.

Further back, Geoff Spencer was serving as a formidable road block, lap after lap, providing a slipstream for a freight train of agitated racers. On lap eight, the pent-up frustration exploded. Brad Kroef bumped Stu Monteith. Greg Kroef joined in. Stu spun onto the grass. Did somebody say “action”?  

Ultimately, Glen claimed the race win and Mitch the consolation prize. It was one-all for Sunday. So emotions were high for a thrilling final race. Then on a warm Taupo afternoon, temperatures rose for Race Three and the weekend round decider.

After starting on pole, a sluggish Mitch Sparrow succumbed to a fast-starting Glen Collinson coming into the first left hander. Peter Ward seized the moment and tucked in behind Glen. Then, Brad Kroef gatecrashed the party for third, nipping ahead of Mitch and began making a play for Collinson.

The heat was on. Not happy about slipping back, Mitch attacked around the outside of Peter Ward at the start of lap two to claim third. From there, Brad Kroef was in his crosshairs. Mitch got Brad down the main straight. Now it was time to hunt down Glen Collinson. Not easy.

Glen held his line on the corners. Blocked Mitch’s overtaking efforts. Mitch tried everything, but mid-race, the pendulum swung – Mitch was catching up. On lap nine, Mitch finally passed Glen and from there he sealed the win. Glen kept a grip on second, Brad claimed third ahead of Peter Ward in ffourth.

Equally creditable, Daniel Ludlam gained a place finishing a solid in fifth. Phill Ross drove a strong race from seventh to finish sixth. Geoff Spencer held his own ahead of Stu Monteith to finish eighth. Sadly, the pressure was all too much for Greg Kroef‘s Ford, overheating issues sending him back into no man’s land.

The series points are stacking up in Mitch Sparrow’s favour, Glen Collinson and Daniel Ludlam are also right in contention. But Brad Kroef is still on top after solid placings all weekend, all season. Looking ahead, the stakes are high for the V8 Utes one-hour Taupo enduro in April.

RACE TWO		UTE	MARGIN
1st	Glen Collinson	Ford
2nd	Mitch Sparrow	Holden	+2.787
3rd	Peter Ward	Holden	+4.111
4th	Daniel Ludlam	Holden	+7.593
5th	Brad Kroef	Ford	+18.765
6th	Greg Kroef	Ford	+19.572
7th	Phill Ross	Holden	+20.704
8th	Geoff Spencer	Holden	+21.588
9th	Paul Fougere	Holden	+22.246
10TH	Blair Gribble-Bowring	Ford	+22.664
11TH	Stu Monteith	Holden	+59.440

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RACE ONE		UTE	MARGIN
1st	Mitch Sparrow	Holden
2nd	Glen Collinson	Ford	+2.871
3rd	Brad Kroef	Ford	+4.568
4th	Peter Ward	Holden	+5.773
5th	Greg Kroef	Ford	+20.317
6th	Phill Ross	Holden	+26.816
7th	Blair Gribble-Bowring	Ford	+29.793
8th	Stu Monteith	Holden	+32.285
9th	Paul Fougere	Holden	+33.138
10TH	Geoff Spencer	Holden	+33.654
11TH	Daniel Ludlam	Holden	+35.159