17 entries have been recorded ahead of Saturday’s opening South Island Endurance Series three hour round from Teretonga.
Hot favourites will be reigning champions in the both the South Island and national series, Neil Foster and Jonny Reid who return with their Audi R8 LMS weapon
Last season saw an all-Audi battle for the championship between Reid/Foster and the R8 of Dale Chapman, Marc Doran and Andrew Waite. This year, however, will see the challenge to Foster and Reid come from D1NZ drifting champion Darren Kelly who makes his circuit racing debut with FIA Gold rated Spanish racer Alex Riberas in an International Motorsport-prepared Aston Martin Vantage GT3.
The older ex Neil Foster 2014 Audi R8 run by Christina Orr-West and International F3 racer and Toyota Racing Series veteran Brendon Leitch, will be relying on having a strong driver pairing to make it on to the podium.
John McIntyre will also return to the series with Simon Gilbertson in their Chevrolet Camaro which Velocity News revealed last week has undergone extensive development between seasons, and will prove a strong challenge to the leading 2 International Motorsport entrie’s
Defending Class D champions Graeme Rhodes and Paul Rickerby are set to defend their crown in a modified Ford Falcon SuperTourer with a handful to Porsche GT3 cup cars their main threat.
An intriguing battle will unfold between the TCR cars in Class B with Track Tec Racing bringing their experienced pairing of Rowan Shepherd and Lochlainn Fitzgerald-Symes in an Audi RS3 LMS TCR. Similarly, Rhys Gould and Jaden Ransley will be running the Signature Homes Hyundai i30 TCR who are expected to be the form horse in Class B.
But leading that charge will be returning champions Barry Moore and Tim Mackersy who will be at the helm of their VW Golf GTi TCR.
Despite hinting at a possible return, Hayden Paddon and his Hyundai TCR will not feature at this weekend’s event.
Three entries have been recorded for the Class A battle while Cameron Davis and Flyn Mitchell will just have to reach the chequered flag in their Mazda RX8 to secure top honours of Class B.
As confirmed yesterday, no spectators will be allowed at the event due to Covid Level 2 restrictions and mass gathering limits.
“The club, the South Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club and Motorsport NZ are all keen to do the right thing to see the country back to Level 1 as soon as possible,” said Bevan Gerrad, Southland Sports Car Club Race Committee Chairman.
“We have the most supportive and passionate motorsport spectators in the country and we value their support and look forward to having them back at the circuit as soon as we are able to do so.”
The second of three rounds take place at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch 3 October with the finale at Timaru International Raceway 17 October.
SIERDC 3 Hour Entry list:
- Car No. Driver/s Class Car
- 1 Neil Foster Jonny Reid E Audi R8 LMS
- 5 Rhys Gould Jaden Ransley B Hyundai TCR i30N
- 18 Simon Gilbertson John McIntyre E Chevrolet Camaro GT3
- 26 Rowan Shepherd Loch Fitzgerald-Symes B Audi RS3 LMS TCR
- 28 Anthony Leighs Paul Kelly D Porsche Cup Car
- 31 Graeme Rhodes Paul Rickerby D Ford Falcon Supertourer
- 47 Cameron Davies Flyn Mitchell C Mazda RX8
- 52 Alex Riberas Darren Kelly E Aston Martin Vantage GT3
- 65 Grant Askew Cole Askew B Seat Supacopa Leon
- 70 Mark Taylor Vaughan Moloney A Honda Integra DC2
- 71 Noel Simons David Berry A Honda Integra
- 79 Barry Moore Tim Mackersy B VW Golf GTI TCR
- 94 Tim Stanton Leyton Tremain A Peugeot 106 Rallye
- 96 Terence Phillips Darryl Phillips A Honda Civic
- 111 Matthew O’Donnell Lindsay O’Donnell B BMW M1 GTR
- 141 Brendon Leitch Christina Orr-West E Audi R8 LMS
- 911 Scott O’Donnell Allan Dippie D Porsche GT3 Cup S