The Sport Saloons Cup cars rolled into Levels Raceway for Round 2 of its 10th-anniversary season, with 34 cars eager to light up the Timaru circuit and a pit paddock buzzing with get-it-done energy. Clouds lingered all weekend, but the rain stayed away, giving spectators two perfect days of racing and plenty to cheer about.
Dave McLean was the star of the weekend, taking pole position and three straight race wins in his Honda Integra before banking a solid fifth in Sunday’s finale to seal the overall round victory.
There was no shortage of drama in the pits. Lyndon Prebble broke an engine-mount bracket during qualifying, only to be rescued by a rival crew who welded it up and got him back into action overnight — grassroots camaraderie at its best.
Lincoln Brunton wasn’t as lucky, finding the tyre wall at McKissock Curve midway through qualifying, ending his session early but bouncing back with a pair of podiums once racing began.
Race 1 – Scratch Race
McLean held firm for victory ahead of Matt Ryan and Brunton. In B Class, it was Josh Mitchell, Jason Kelly, and James Swaney leading the charge, while Ross Jones, Marty Russell, and Darren Harding topped C Class.
The Competitor Relations Officer (CRO) was kept busy, furiously scribbling reprimands after two false starts and four class breakouts. An incident beyond the finish line left two competitors with late-night repair work ahead of Sunday’s racing.
Race 2 – Reverse-Grid Handicap
The crown jewel of the series — the first of two handicap races — delivered classic SS Cup chaos. Graeme Alloo and Mitchell crossed the line first, but both broke out of class, handing the win to McLean, from Marty Russell and Oscar Tatom, who claimed his first podium.
It was fast, furious, and full of the rush-hour traffic that makes the SS Cup’s handicap format one of the most entertaining spectacles in South Island motorsport.
Race 3 – Reverse Within Class
Warren Walker led early before an eight-lap scrap saw McLean once again edge clear of Ryan and Brunton. Mitchell, Carmen Liemburg, and Prebble were the top B Class finishers, with Allan Garnett, Glen Wendelborn, and Tony Herbert leading the C Class.
Another breakout from Alloo and Peter Swaney made for a low-scoring weekend for both.
Race 4 – Reverse-Grid Handicap Finale
Always a crowd-pleaser, the finale had spectators lining the fences. Mike McCarthy led much of the race before a fast-charging pack stormed through on the final lap. Jason Kelly piloted the “green machine” to a skilful win ahead of Josh Mitchell and Oscar Tatom — all from B Class.
Traffic made life tough for the A Class frontrunners, with McLean fifth, Ryan ninth, and Brunton 11th. Marty Russell was the best of the C Class racers, holding fourth overall.
Weekend Class Winners
- A Class: Dave McLean
- B Class: Jason Kelly
- C Class: Marty Russell
The series now heads south for Round 3 at Teretonga Park, Invercargill (6–7 December) as the 24 Red Racing SS Cup continues its 10-year celebrations. Expect another full grid, fierce handicap battles, and a festive Southland crowd as the season’s momentum builds.
Header Image: Euan Cameron
