In a dominant display at Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend, Rick Armstrong has taken pole position and three race wins in the GT New Zealand Championship, increasing his lead in the points standings.
In the GT4 Class, Glen Chappel has extended his points lead, winning the round with co-driver Lachlan Evennett. The duo picked up two wins and a second placing between them.
The Open Class podium was rounded out with Nigel Cromie second, who claimed three second placings across the weekend, with Regan Scoullar nabbing the third spot on the podium for the weekend.
Behind the GT4 round winners of Chappel & Evennett, it was the other Toyota Supra duo of Allan Sargeant and William Exton, while Championship newcomer Matt Day finished off a stellar debut weekend in his Mercedes AMG GT4, taking third overall – including a win and a second placing across the three races.
For the second year in a row, Allan Sargeant clinched the Grant Aitken Perpetual Trophy – awarded to the highest placed ‘Gentleman’ driver in GT4.
The battle of the weekend was in Saturday morning’s race two, where in the GT4 field, up-and-coming youngsters William Exton, Lachlan Evennett and Ryder Quinn battled it out in identical Toyota Supra SGT EVO 2’s across the 30-minute encounter. The trio battled hard throughout the encounter and finished in the order listed above.
But in the Open Class, and after three rounds, Rick Armstrong looks to have the Championship by the throat, with a total of 719 points. Nigel Cromie on 658.5 with Joel Giddy third on 587.5.
Glenn Chappel leads on 719.5, with Grant Aitken second on 650.5, and Allan Sargeant third on 557.5.
The GT New Zealand Championship now heads to Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon at Feilding, for round four, Feb 27-1 March.
Header Image: GT New Zealand
