The NAPA Auto Parts New Zealand Super Truck Championship pays its annual visit to Teretonga Park in Invercargill over the weekend of 16/17 March with a lot of interest as to whether Lower Hutt driver Alex Little can win the Mobil Delvac 1 Trophy for the sixth time.
Little first won the trophy in 2018 and has won it every year since, except for 2020, when the event was cancelled due to the nationwide lockdown. The trophy is awarded to the driver who wins the round each time the championship visits Teretonga Park.
Last year, Little, a two-time National Champion, drove his Freightliner 3 Series to win the first race of the round. He then went on to record a third and a second placing to secure the top step of the podium. He also set a new lap record of 1 minute 14.266 seconds in the process.
Second for the round was South Canterbury driver Brent ‘Bones’ Collins in a similar Freightliner.
Collins returns to do battle this year, while Shane Gray is another who will be competitive in a Kenworth, as will Dave West of Pukekohe, who has gone well at Teretonga Park in recent years in his Freightliner Argosy.
Four-time Champion Ron Salter is also in the field in a Scania, while 2006/07 and 2013/14 Super Truck Champion John Hepburn is entered in the Flying Farewell. Three-time Champion Malcolm Little, father of Alex Little, and local favourite Garry Price, now based in Cromwell, are also entered in the Flying Farewell.
Last year’s Rookie Of The Year, Marc King of Eketahuna, and Most Improved Driver Connor Etting of Auckland are also set to line up, as are Troy Etting (Kenworth) and Tony Brand (Bedford) in what will be a fantastic battle of the big rigs.
Joining the NZ Super Trucks on the programme are another big favourite, the Mobil 1 Mainland Muscle Cars, along with a great range of different classes, including Pre 65 Saloons, NZ 6 Saloons, the MX5 Heritage Cup, the Historic Vintage Racing Association and Noel McIntyre Drainage Club Saloons.
