• Latest
  • Trending

Fast day of practice sets scene for Golden Homes North Island Endurance Series at Hampton Downs

April 21, 2023

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

September 18, 2025

Another exciting season of motorsport at Teretonga Park

September 18, 2025

Toby McCormack returns for another season in NZ Formula Ford

September 18, 2025

Zeltwanger looking to maintain blistering winter form

September 17, 2025

Palmer the one to beat heading to Rally Waitomo this weekend

September 17, 2025

TRS and Formula Pacific cars running under exciting new format for 2025/26 season

September 17, 2025

Nick Cassidy to race with Citroën in Formula E while balancing WEC drive with Peugeot

September 17, 2025

Cormac Buchanan battles through tough Misano weekend in Moto3 rookie season

September 16, 2025

Ryan Yardley and David Musial Jr. claim victory in Porsche Endurance Challenge at Road Atlanta

September 15, 2025

Tough weekend at the Bend for Giltrap and Osborne in Porsche Carrera Cup

September 15, 2025

Scott McLaughlin secures historic podium for JMR at Suzuka 1000km

September 15, 2025
Friday, September 19, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Fast day of practice sets scene for Golden Homes North Island Endurance Series at Hampton Downs

by Velocity News
April 21, 2023
in NIERDC
0

A mixed bag of weather didn’t put off competitors in a full day of Golden Homes North Island Endurance Series practices at Hampton Downs today, with the times coming in thick and fast to showcase what shapes up to be a great day of racing tomorrow.

In a field full of talent, it was Nick Chester who set the benchmark early on in the new Marc GT, a 1:03.436 being the fastest time of the first session of the day in dry conditions.

The #909 Porsche 991.2 Cup MR of Francois Beziac and Tom Alexander also put in some solid times to pip Heremana Malmezac and Jono Lester’s #910 of the same car.

Luke Manson is also looking the goods in the #222 Porsche 991.2, with Steve Brooks and Bill Riding running strong in the always-impressive Wolfbrook Porsche early on before swapping to the newly acquired Audi R8 GT3 for the very next run.

As the track began to improve over the day, so did the times, with Jonny Reid and Sam Fillmore (Audi R8 LMS Evo 2) making a statement that they’re right in the mix to repeat their New Zealand Endurance Championship 3-Hour victory, setting a 1:01.254 around the midday mark.

The McLaren GT3 650S, being shared this weekend by Gene Rollinson, John DeVeth and Glenn Smith, set a time only four-tenths behind this, bringing the battle to the national champions.

Neither of those cars could top the Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Ant and Paul Pedersen, however, which set the fastest lap of the day, a mindblowing 1:00.980.

The Pedersen Mercedes was the fastest 3-Hour competitor of the day. Image: Neville Bailey

The ever-impressive Nissan GTR returns to the fold, driven by Lance Hughes and Chris van der Drift, who were quick and set a 1:02.785 just after lunch.

Christina Orr-West and Bree Morris are partnering up in the Dayle ITM Mercedes Benz AMG GT4 for the 3-Hour, both lapping consistently in the 1:07s.

The 1-Hour is shaping up to be a thriller, with no less than 22 cars taking to the track come race time.

Chester remains the pacesetter, his best of the day being 1:02.983. Beziac, Malmezac, Manson and Brooks all remain in close proximity, with a strong mid-pack also looking a chance of bridging the gap to the faster cars.

Nick Chester set the fastest time of 1-Hour competitors in the new Marc GT. Image: Neville Bailey

Among those is Nick Ross (Nissan Altima), Shaun Varney (BMW 318i), Adam Julian (Porsche 997-2) and Grant Aitken (Porsche GT4RS).

There’s also plenty of young talent taking to the track, including a return for Cormac Murphy (Toyota 86), a debut for Ayrton Hodson, who partners Brett Sullivan (Z4 M Coupe), and Clay Osborne (BMW M2), who is fresh off the back of his maiden Toyota 86 victory last week.

A full day of action at Hampton Downs begins with two early-morning practice sessions before 1-Hour qualifying at 9.40 am and 3-Hour qualifying at 10.10 am.

The 1-Hour begins racing at 11.05 am, with the 3-Hour beginning at 1.00 pm.

There is no fee to enter the circuit for spectators.

Tags: Hampton DownsNew Zealand Endurance ChampionshipNIERDC

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.