The sun shone on Hampton Downs as a massive crowd flocked to see world-class racing and F1 star Liam Lawson at the Hampton Downs International on Sunday.
Lawson was but one star attraction among many highlights in a bumper Sunday at the Waikato circuit, as perfect conditions and dramatic racing highlighted a packed on-track program.
Young American driver Ugo Ugochukwu was the standout in a pair of highly competitive Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy races, winning both races on Sunday aboard his M2 Competition entry.
He passed early leader Kanato Le in race three on Sunday morning to pull away and claim his first win of the season, before doubling down later in the 23-lap Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup race in the afternoon.
The feature race was dramatic, with a red flag called less than one kilometre into the first lap. Contact between Sebastian Manson and Kalle Rovanpera saw both cars immediately out, with Ryan Wood and Yevan David also sustaining damage in the four-car accident that suspended the race.
Following a brief delay, Ugochukwu powered away in front to build a lead he would never lose, claiming his second win of the day.
He was followed home by Japanese star Jin Nakamura, who sits second in the championship following the first four races, with his Hitech teammate Kenato Le third.
Fast Brit Freddie Slater charged to fourth position following a thrilling series of passes, including a lengthy battle with key local hope, Louis Sharp, who was fifth.
All four CTFROT races provided huge entertainment, with a wide-open field promising plenty of action across the next three weeks. CTFROT returns next weekend at the Giltrap Group Historic GP at Taupo International Motorsport Park.
In the Bridgestone GR86 Championship, Chris White was the star of the show as he powered to the overall victory in Round 2 of the championship, following another competitive weekend of racing.
Fourth place in race two and a commanding race three win were enough to deliver White the overall victory.
Cooper Barnes claimed Race 2 ahead of Ajay Giddy and Hugo Allan, with White fourth, while the latter claimed race three ahead of Arthur Broughan and Josh Bethune.
Young-gun Mac Templeton claimed rookie of the round honours at Hampton Downs.
The pair of Porsche NZ Championship races were split by GT3 Cup Car drivers Regan Scoullar and Nick Cutfield, while in GTRNZ GT1, John De Veth and his Crawford Daytona Prototype were too strong for longtime rival and friend Glenn Smith’s McLaren.
Kerry Jones claimed GT2, while Dion Palmer and Matt Henney claimed the pair of GTRNZ GT3 and GT4 class races, respectively.
The travelling NextGen NZ Championship travelling show decamps south this week ahead of the annual running of the Giltrap Group Historic GP at Taupo Motorsport Park.
The retro event will feature strong grids of historic cars, including Formula Atlantic, Heritage Touring Cars NZ, HRVA Historic Saloons and the Euro Allcomers, alongside the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy races.
A highlight is likely to be the demonstration session of ‘Black Beauty’, A1 Team New Zealand’s restored A1GP World Cup of Motorsport racer that will be driven by Jonny Reid – its original driver – across the weekend.
Tickets are on sale now via the NextGen NZ website, while action will be broadcast live on Sky Sport NZ, Fox / Kayo in Australia and live around the world on YouTube.
For more information, please visit www.nextgennz.co.nz
Header Image: Shots By Tay B/Tayler Burke
