Two drivers making a cameo appearance at the opening round of the Nexen Tyre NZ Mazda Racing South Island Series at Ruapuna over the weekend dominated the podium.
Current New Zealand and South Island title holder Chris White won all three races in the car that newcomer Bryan Walker will use in the remainder of the series, while Arthur Broughan was second on each occasion.
Both are moving into the Toyota GR86 Championship this season, White having won the Tony Quinn Foundation Toyota GR86 Shootout to gain support to contest that series. Broughan was also a finalist in the shootout.
Best of those looking to contest the entire series was Will Kitching, who placed fifth in the first race followed by two third placings. Dalan Price and Mac Templeton also compiled three good results across the weekend.
Broughan was the fastest in qualifying ahead of White, with Kitching third followed Templeton, Price and Mac Berkett. However, both Broughan and debutant Michael Court of Christchurch, who qualified eighth, received penalties for technical infringements which dropped them to the rear of the grid.
That left White on pole with Kitching alongside for the first race over 10 laps early on Saturday afternoon.
White was immediately into the lead, one which he extended all the way to the flag to win by 10.439 seconds from Broughan, who came from the back to take second from Templeton on the last lap. Price was fourth ahead of Kitching, who had a massive moment through Pothole Corner during the race. He was followed across the line by Matthew Dodd, Berkett, North Islander Anthony Tork, Court, Andrew French and another debutant, Marc Denton.
Broughan recorded the fastest lap of the race on his charge through the field with a time of 1 minute 36.851 seconds.
Race 2 was held later on Saturday afternoon over 12 laps with a reverse top ten grid with French and Court on the front row, while White and Broughan lined up ninth and tenth.
The opening part of the race was exciting, with cars three and four wide, but White was able to blast through the traffic to take the lead on the first lap. Kitching held second initially from sixth on the grid before Broughan came through just before the halfway point. White went on to lead Broughan home by a margin of 5.569 seconds with Kitching third followed by Price, Templeton, Court, Tork, Berkett, Dodd and French. Denton did not start due to a clutch issue while White set the fastest lap of 1.37.359.
Race 3 was held over 10 laps on Sunday morning and while Broughan led initially White was through on lap 2 to take the clean sweep with Broughan second, 3.986 seconds in arrears. Kitching was third ahead of Price and Templeton. White again recorded the fastest lap with a stunning new lap record of 1.35.830.
This year the series is running a slightly narrower Nexen tyre, requiring set up changes which proved challenging for some drivers over the weekend.
The next round of the South Island Series takes place at Timaru International Motor Raceway over the weekend of 2/3 November while the North Island Series commences at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding this weekend.
