Having already won the opening round two-weeks ago, Steve Brooks and Bill Riding (Audi R8 GT3 Evo) again took command of the Three-Hour Racer Products South Island Endurance Series race, this time at the second round held in Christchurch.
The Euromarque Motorsport Park hosted the penultimate round in which the pairing set fastest lap in qualifying and then took a lights-to-flag victory ahead of a fast-closing Lamborghini GT3 Evo of Glen Brazier and Andrew Waite, with the father and son pairing of Luke and Seb Manson (Audi R8 Evo) third.
“Thrilled with the win,” said Riding. “A big thanks to everyone, the team, competitors and volunteers.”
While the economic pinch has seen a reduced entry this season, the rivalry between the three Class 1 (GT3) cars made a top race for spectators and fans with the outcome never certain, with three hours of good clean racing with no cautions or Safety Car interventions. It would prove to be a race where different team strategies would play out right to the end.
Steve Brooks initially led from Glen Brazier and Luke Manson with the Marc Mustang of Paul Rickerby/Graeme Rhodes in fourth followed by James Sax/Ricky Grey//Todd Bawden (Mercedes AMG GT4), Dale Chapman/Blake Knowles (Audi RS3 TCR), Ajay Giddy/Tom Alexander (Toyota 86) and Matt Moore/Grant Moore (Toyota Altezza).
All three GT3 cars took their first pitstop soon after the first hour, with both Am-Am Audi teams also changing drivers. As Pro-drivers may only compete for a maximum of 70 minutes, Brazier would not be able to hand over to co-driver Andrew Waite (Pro) until their second pitstop.
Therefore, Riding needed to put in some quick and consistent laps to create a gap back to the other two GT3 cars while Seb Manson needed to stay in contention and Brazier needed to give Waite a chance to attack the leaders once he took over.
Behind them, Paul Rickerby and Graeme Rhodes needed a top result to back up their second placing at the first round in Invercargill to keep them within title contention.
Once Waite took over from Brazier, he set out to catch both Manson and Riding setting a new lap record of 1min 18.635 seconds, in the process.
With the lead car pitting for fuel and tyres, all three GT3 cars were now on the same lap with less than 45 minutes remaining. Manson also stopped for fuel and tyres promoting Waite to second, albeit 1min 10 seconds behind Riding.
In the end the gap was too big for Waite to reduce finishing 53.688 seconds behind Riding who, along with Brooks, set a new Three-Hour record of 132 laps at the circuit. Manson came in third and Rhodes/Rickerby finishing in fourth for valuable series points.
“Thanks to the team for giving us a great car and to Glen (Brazier) for letting me drive the beast,” commented Waite. “It’s been a great day all round. It’s awesome and so cool to be out there.”
Brooks and Riding have an eight-point lead over Rhodes and Rickerby who are second equal with Brazier and Waite. Drivers and teams head to Timaru International Raceway, Timaru, in three weeks for the final round of the series.
