Arthur Broughan of Tuamarina near Blenheim took the win in an exciting first day of action at the penultimate round of the NZ Mazda Racing Series New Zealand and North Island Series at Taupō International Motorsport Park yesterday.
A great field of twenty-four cars fronted for the round with former Mazda Series stars Broughan, reigning NZ title holder Chris White of Prebbleton plus two-time National Champion and 2020/2021 North Island Champion Simon Baker, all being competitive additions to the grid for this round.
Qualifying saw White snatch the Racetech Pole Award from fellow Prebbleton driver Mac Templeton, with Broughan third and fourteen-year-old Ajay Giddy of Auckland fourth fastest.
The four fastest qualifiers had all raced in the GR86 Championship at Hampton Downs the previous weekend – Mazda Series graduates White and Broughan, plus Giddy as regulars in that series and Templeton on debut.
Several key competitors in both the New Zealand and North Island title chase, Stuart Lawton of Paraparaumu, Will Kitching of Timaru, and Aucklanders Callum Pratt and Karl Gaines, were all within the top ten in qualifying.
White was the early leader in the race, with Broughan close behind until lap 5 when ABS issues forced White to retire. This handed the lead to Broughan, with Templeton, Giddy, Kitching, Sam Dashfield of Auckland, and Lawton behind him.
Pratt was already gone, out on lap 2 with an electrical issue, while Phil Clemas of Auckland and Bryan Walker of Christchurch had gone out early in an incident while Leo Bult and Jesse Gould also tangled early on.
Broughan continued to lead Templeton until the final lap, when Templeton stopped with a mechanical issue. Kitching, the current New Zealand Series points leader, got past Giddy on the final lap after an incredible drive to seize second place, leaving Giddy third on just his second weekend in the series.
Dashfield crossed the line fourth ahead of Lawton, with Karl Gaines of Auckland sixth. The top ten was rounded out by Gould, Steven Gaskell of Waikato, Mac Berkett of Nelson, and Baker.
Baker will have pole in today’s top 10 reverse grid race at 9 am with Berkett alongside Broughan and Kitching at the back of the ten. Others like White, Pratt and Templeton will have to come through the field from even further back. White was driving Lance Gerlach’s car in today’s cameo, but after the braking issues, today will be at the wheel of Elton Wichman’s car for today’s two races.
The series is racing as part of the NZIGP Great Lakes Taupō event at the circuit this weekend.
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Header Image: Geoff Ridder
