A full grid of 38 cars rolled into Levels Raceway for Round 4 of the 24 Red Racing SS Cup, and the tight 2.4km Timaru circuit delivered exactly what was expected: close racing, traffic management challenges, and more than a little drama across four races.
With a packed field and dry conditions throughout the weekend, qualifying on Saturday morning set the tone for what would become one of the most incident-filled rounds of the season.
Qualifying
Early pace came from Warren Walker, who briefly held provisional pole before traffic began to influence lap times as the session progressed. With 38 cars circulating, gaps opened and closed quickly, underscoring the critical need for track space in the final minutes.
When the dust settled, just 0.17 seconds covered the top four cars. Pete Swaney secured pole position, with Peter Sutherland alongside him on the front row and Mike Diver third.
South Canterbury locals Steve Parker and Jacob Cunniffe both lapped faster than the lowest permissible lap time, resulting in them being relegated to the rear of the grid for Race 1.
Race 1
The opening race was shortened by two safety car periods, effectively limiting the contest to five green flag laps. While the interruptions prevented the field from fully settling into rhythm, the restarts gave several drivers opportunities to advance.
Peter Sutherland led from Turn 1 and looked in control until the final lap, when Pete Swaney made a decisive move down the back straight to claim victory. Josh Mitchell completed the podium in third.
Race 2
The first full reverse grid race of the weekend promised chaotic traffic management and delivered in dramatic fashion.
An early incident between Mike Diver and Matt Ryan triggered the first safety car. Once racing resumed, a broken front hub on Swaney’s Altezza sent him into the tyre barrier, bringing out a red flag and ending the race prematurely.
When the results were confirmed, it was a clean sweep for C Class machinery at the front. Ben van Heeswyck took victory in his Ford Falcon, followed by Mike McCarthy in his Commodore and Tony Herbert, marking a rare overall podium lockout for C Class competitors and a strong showing for the NZ6 brigade.
Race 3
Just as the meeting looked set to settle, Race 3 was halted following a failure for Josh Mitchell that required a significant clean-up effort. Full credit goes to the Levels Raceway officials for efficiently restoring the circuit and allowing racing to resume.
Once underway, battles raged throughout the field. At the front, just eight-tenths separated the top three at the chequered flag, with Mike Diver taking the win ahead of Matt Ryan and Jacob Cunniffe in third.
Race 4
The final race of the weekend, another full reverse grid contest, capped off an intense programme for both drivers and spectators.
Jason Kelly delivered a standout performance in his green 280Z, taking a commanding four-second victory. The result secured him the overall round win, stepping onto the top step of the podium for the weekend ahead of Dave McLean in second and Richard Simpson in third overall. Mike Hammer and Marty Russell completed the final race in podium positions.
Overall Round Podium:
🥇 Jason Kelly
🥈 Dave McLean
🥉 Richard Simpson
Class Results
A Class
🥇 Dave McLean
🥈 Richard Simpson
🥉 Matt Ryan
B Class
🥇 Jason Kelly
🥈 Carmen Liemburg
🥉 James Swaney
C Class
🥇 Allan Garnett
🥈 Ben van Heeswyck
🥉 Mike Hammer
Championship Context:
Round 4 has added another layer of intrigue to the SS Cup championship. With multiple race stoppages, reverse grids, and changing fortunes across the weekend, the standings have tightened in several areas while rewarding those who maximised consistency across all four races.
Jason Kelly’s overall win strengthens his position in B Class and the overall picture, while Dave McLean’s steady accumulation of A Class points ensures the pressure remains on the chasing pack. With Joker strategies still influencing outcomes and little margin for error, every round now carries added weight.
The championship now turns to Ruapuna at Speed Weekend, March 6th – 8th, where momentum, reliability, and smart race management will become increasingly critical as the season enters its decisive stages.
Header Image: Euan Cameron
