Christchurch’s Dan Kelly has made it three wins from three rounds to claim the 2025 One-Hour South Island Endurance Series Class 4 & 5 title.
However, it wasn’t straightforward at the final round held at the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell on Saturday.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Kelly.
“The driver-through penalty made it really hard. I didn’t think I would get back to the front, so super happy.”
Having led from the opening lap, a Safety-car period resulted in a drive-through penalty for Kelly.
With the ruling for One-Hour races not allowing compulsory pit stops to be taken during a safety car period, when the race went green again, Kelly first undertook the drive-through and, on returning to the track, undertook his compulsory pit stop, dropping him down the field to eighth.
With all the competitors having undertaken their pit stops, Donavan Isted (Honda Civic) emerged as the leader with a chance to take the win with 15 minutes remaining and a two-minute lead.
“It was so close, but he (Kelly) was that much quicker, so in the end I let him by,” commented Isted.
“I’m over the moon. I came here with the aim to finish the One-Hour as we are in the Three-Hour this afternoon, so to come away with a podium is amazing. I am really stoked.”
Isted finished second ahead of Honda Civic rival Chris Wall in third. Wall had done enough to finish second overall in the series, four points ahead of Duncan Cundal-Curry (BMW M1).
Kelly also takes the Class 4 title from Cundal-Curry with Nathan Grammer (Toyota 86) in third.
The Class 5 title was won by Wall ahead of Isted and Andrew Bartlett (Honda Integra Type R).
Overall Points – 2025 SIERDC One-Hour Class 4&5 Endurance Series (Top 11):
| Position | Drivers | Car | Class | Points |
| 1 | Dan Kelly | BMW E46 | 4 | 285 |
| 2 | Chris Wall | Honda Civic | 5 | 258 |
| 3 | Duncan Cundal-Curry | BMW M1 | 4 | 254 |
| 4 | Donovan Isted | Honda Civic | 5 | 248 |
| 5 | Andrew Bartlett | Honda Integra Type R | 5 | 222 |
| 6 | James Mitchell | Honda Civic | 5 | 172 |
| 7 | Toby Elmiger | Toyota GT86 | 5 | 154 |
| 8 | Nathan Grammer | Toyota GR86 | 4 | 146 |
| 9 | Mac Templeton | Mazda RX8/Toyota 86 | 4&5 | 134 |
| 10 | Ben Groves | Toyota MR2 | 5 | 130 |
| 11 | Paul Booth/David Booth | BMW E36 | 5 | 116 |
Race Results: One-Hour Class 4 & 5, Round 3
| Position | Drivers | Car | Class |
| 1 | Dan Kelly | BMW E46 | 4 |
| 2 | Donovan Isted | Honda Civic | 5 |
| 3 | Chris Wall | Honda Civic | 5 |
| 4 | Duncan Cundal-Curry | BMW M1 | 4 |
| 5 | Andrew Bartlett | Honda Integra Type R | 5 |
| 6 | Lincoln Brunton | Mazda RX8 | 4 |
| 7 | Nathan Grammer | Toyota GR86 | 4 |
| 8 | Peter Bennetts | Seat Supercopa | 4 |
| 9 | Toby Elmiger | Toyota GT86 | 5 |
| 10 | Mac Templeton | Mazda RX8/Toyota 86 | 4&5 |
| 11 | Sam Mills/Simon Crampton | Toyota 86 | 4 |
| 12 | Ben Groves | Toyota MR2 | 5 |
| DNF | James Mitchell | Honda Civic | 5 |
| DNF | Paul Booth & David Booth | BMW E36 | 5 |
| DNF | Neiko Scoles | Mazda MX5 | 5 |
| DNF | Brad Rule | Honda Civic | 5 |
| DNF | Brett Roper | BMW 320i | 4 |
Header Image: Richard Opie Photography
