Hunter Robb wins Ruapuna Toyota 86 opener

Hunter Robb has extended his Toyota 86 Championship lead with victory in the opening race at Ruapuna on Saturday.

A superb start from fourth on the grid put Robb at the front of the field early, with the rookie driver taking the lead off Justin Allen at Turn 1 on Lap 2 and remaining at the front until the chequered flag.

Pole-sitter William Exton came home in second, while Allen’s strong start off the back of a solid qualifying outing rewarded him with a podium in third.

Allen was quick away off second on the grid, taking the lead into Turn 1 while Exton dropped back into the clutches of Robb, who took second ahead of the pole-sitter, Jackson Rooney and Jaden Ransley.

Opening round winner Tom Bewley dropped from third to sixth off the line, while Australian Lockie Bloxsom jumped from twelfth to seventh in an impressive first lap.

Robb quickly applied the pressure over Lap 1 and took the lead up the inside at Turn 1 the following circuit, with Exton joining the lead pair, closely followed by Rooney.

Bewley began moving forward from Lap 3 with a pass on Ransley. A fierce side-by-side battle with Rooney followed a circuit later, with a great drive out of the final corner elevating Bewley to fourth and opening the door for Ransley, who followed through to fifth.

Up front, Exton found a way past Allen to take second on Lap 4 and began to hunt down Robb over the following circuits. Bewley, likewise, was on the rear of Allen entering the final lap, with the podium places far from decided.

Robb maintained his composure to claim the win under pressure, crossing the line two-tenths ahead of Exton, who had Allen a further 1.1 seconds behind.

Bewley was fourth, ahead of Ransley, Rooney and Bloxsom, while Hayden Bakkerus, Cormac Murphy and John Penny rounded out the top ten.