• Latest
  • Trending

Maiden victory for Stu Monteith in V8  Utes 1-Hour enduro

May 28, 2023

Michelin Tyres for the New Zealand Porsche Championship

August 18, 2025

Chris White confirms highly anticipated 2025–26 Toyota GR86 campaign

August 18, 2025

SVG’s oval growth continues as he battles from P27 to P14, matching his best oval finish in the Cup Series

August 18, 2025

SS Cup celebrates 10 years since its revival — A decade of grassroots motorsport thrills

August 15, 2025
2025 - Repco Supercars Championship - QR

Hodson shows pace but battles through in tough Super2 Ipswich weekend

August 15, 2025

Bryn Jones secures first International Rally drive with PT Racing in Portugal

August 15, 2025

Wolfbrook Foundation opens 2025/26 Toyota GR86 Scholarship

August 15, 2025

Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

August 15, 2025

Douglas ends season with podium, Manson scores top five in Portland USF Pro 2000 finale

August 14, 2025
2025 NEXTGEN, ROUND 2, TAUPO, NEW ZEALAND.
WORLD COPYRIGHT: TAYLER BURKE
_SAT6446.CR3

Tim Miles Memorial Trophy added to key New Zealand Formula Atlantic event

August 14, 2025

North Island Rally Series contenders ready to tackle the Dayle ITM Gold Rush Rally of Coromandel

August 14, 2025
Tuesday, August 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

Maiden victory for Stu Monteith in V8  Utes 1-Hour enduro

by Velocity News
May 28, 2023
in General
0

The season finale for the V8 Utes was a one-hour enduro that provided uncertainty and upsets right up to the last lap. Stu Monteith came out the ultimate winner, a big surprise after qualifying ninth earlier in the day, ahead of hard-charging veterans Peter Ward in second and Glen Collinson in third.

Qualifying earlier in the day produced some arguably expected results. Jake Stoneman posted the top qualifying time of 1.16.859 – 0.35 of a second ahead of championship runner-up Greg Kroef with a 1.17.212 best lap. Glen Collinson was close behind with a 1.17.343, while championship winner Brad Kroef was fourth fastest.

Stu ‘Monty’ Monteith took his maiden win in the 1-Hour Enduro at Hampton Downs. Image: dillonphotonz

For the main race at 4pm in the afternoon, while most drivers would run solo, several teams opted for a two-driver strategy. Stoneman partnered Ward in the Ward Demolition Holden, Shane Dias co-drive with Daniel Ludlam, while Bruce McRae was assisted by grandson Mitch Sparrow embarking on his first drive in a V8 ute –  he’d only ever driven go karts before. 

The race began predictably enough with pole sitter Stoneman up front and a relentless Greg Kroef hot on his tail. Not far behind, however, was season newcomer Blair Gribble-Bowring, who overtook four utes in the very first lap, jumping from 10th to an impressive 6th.

Yet the real drama came mid-race as the safety car had a big part to play in the results. On Lap 28, Simon Ussher came to a halt as he snapped a gear stick – forcing a snap decision for several drivers to come in for their mandatory pit stop during the safety car period. 

At one point, five utes were banked up in the pits as crews feverishly refuelled, changed tyres and co- drivers stepped in. When they rejoined the race, the big surprise was the ninth qualifier Stu Monteith, who leap-frogged to a commanding 14-second lead following the safety car exit. 

Monteith took the lead after a mid-race Safety Car and never looked back. Image: dillonphotonz

Just behind him, a fierce battle was raging. Collinson was ploughing through the field, and by lap 36 was up to third and chasing a tenacious Ward. By lap 40, Ward, Collinson and Greg Kroef were just 0.5 secs apart – incredible after almost 55 minutes of racing.

Then on lap 42, drama. Stu Monteith exceeded track limits on one corner, incurring a time penalty. Fortunately it wasn’t enough to whittle away his lead and Stu came home a well-deserved winner.

After an enduro that left most drivers exhausted, Greg Kroef, who clocked the fastest lap, admitted “That was a one-hour sprint race”, such was the pace and intensity of the one hour grudge match. 

The V8 Utes now head into a winter break after a season that has seen closer qualifying and even closer racing.

Header Image: dillonphotonz

Words and Images: Supplied

Tags: Brad KroefGreg KroefHampton DownsJake StonemanPeter WardStu MonteithV8 Utes

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.