Pole for Kroef, Race 1 win for Ross in V8 Utes

In a packed NZIGP program at Hampton Downs, Phill Ross leapfrogged form his fourth qualifying position to a hard-fought win in Race One in the Ferodo V8 Utes on Saturday.

The morning started cool but sunny, but in Qualifying, the Kroefs were red hot. Greg Kroef set the fastest time of 1.14.663 closely followed by Brad Kroef just 26 hundredths of a second behind him, both in Ford FG utes. This was Greg Kroef’s best qualifying result in quite some time. 

The first Holden was Rookie Mitch Sparrow barely 0.4 secs behind Brad with a 1.15.083, and Phill Ross’s 1.15.485 was good enough for fourth fastest. The rest of the contenders were just 1.3 sends apart setting the scene for a weekend of close racing. So, while last year’s title holder Glen Collinson had to miss the weekend with a family commitment, there was plenty of talent up front.

Under blazing sun mid-afternoon, a field of 12 Ferodo NZV8 Utes took off for Race One, with the NZ Sixes leaving just 5 seconds behind them. Phill Ross immediately made his presence felt, moving from his fourth starting place to get around Mitch Sparrow then Brad and Greg Kroef and snatch the lead by Lap 2.

By Lap 5, the intense battle saw the V8 Utes begin lapping the 6-cylinder Commodores & Falcons; the sight of so many Fords & Holdens of various configurations battling it out was one for the ages. Phill had consolidated his lead to 1.5 secs ahead of Brad Kroef. Last month’s round winner Daniel Ludlum had moved up a place and was fighting fiercely in fourth – hunting down Greg Kroef. Rookie Mitch Sparrow had slipped from third to fifth but was clinging onto Daniel’s rear tailgate.

It was just as intense in the midfield, with Geoff Spencer fighting hard to hold onto eighth ahead of relative newcomer Cam Vernon who had found a way up from his 12^th starting position. Late in the race Tyler Ward made contact with Jeremy Hunt, leaving Tyler feeling deflated and limping back to the pits for a tyre change.

Come Lap 8, it all looked to be coming unstuck for the rampaging Ross, as the hot track and the heat of battle was causing his brakes to fade. Coming into the hairpin, Phill ran wide and Brad Kroef pounced. His 2-second lead instantly evaporated leaving the two battling side by side into the hairpin. The two went doorhandle-to-doorhandle, corner after corner. Yet Phill held his nerve, and the lead, holding on for the chequered flag. Enroute Phill set the fastest lap of the race at 1.15.831; such was the intensity of the duel between Phill and Brad.

With Race Two Sunday morning being a reverse grid affair, the combination of a cooler track and some hot heads will make for some interesting battles.