Steve Brooks and Bill Riding (Audi R8 GT3 Evo) took a commanding victory at the opening round of the Three-Hour Racer Products South Island Endurance Series race at Teretonga Park, Invercargill, on Saturday. Paul Rickerby/Graeme Rhodes’s MARC Mustang was second home, with the Martin and Allan Dippie Porsche 992 in third.
“Good race, and thanks to the organisers, volunteers, and everyone else competing,” commented Riding. “Hard luck to the Lambo boys. We were looking forward to a good fight and now looking forward to the next round.”
Brooks and Riding’s main competition should have come from the one other Class 1 (GT3) entry of Glen Brazier and Andrew Waite in a very quick Lamborghini GT3 Evo.
However, an alternator issue early in the race meant the car would make several pitstops to change a continuing flat battery. This dropped them well down the order and required a fight back to fourth to gain valuable points for the three-round series.
While the Brooks/Riding Audi soon gained a comfortable lead over the field, the battle for second and third continued for the entire three hours of racing.
“This was a team performance,” commented second-placed Graeme Rhodes. “Paul (Rickerby) drove brilliantly at the start. No problems with the car, which went really well, and we had a great battle with Martin (Dippie).”
“Thrilled to get a podium,” said Allan Dippie. “It was a great result after a great battle with the Oxford boys (Rickerby/Rhodes). The car went really well; it was fast and furious.”
The First Class 3 (>3501cc) car home was James Sax/Todd Bawden (Mercedes Benz AMG GT4), which finished fifth overall, ahead of Scott O’Donnell/Steven Kelly (Audi RS3 TCR), the first Class 4 (2001cc-3500cc) to finish.
Matthew O’Donnell/Lindsay O’Donnell (Audi RS3 TCR) finished seventh overall ahead of Matt Moore/Grant Moore (Toyota Altezza). In ninth was Cormac Murphy/Thomas Mallard (Toyota 86) while Dale Chapman/Blake Knowles (Audi RS3 TCR) finished tenth after stopping for some time with a mechanical issue.
Drivers and teams now prepare for the second round in Christchurch. The Euromarque Motorsport Park at Ruapuna hosts the second round on Saturday 28 September 2024 before the finale in Timaru, three weeks later.
Image: Richard Opie
