Southland’s Jordan Michels has won the final round of the 2025 One-Hour South Island Endurance Series for Class 1,2 & 3 cars and, in doing so, claimed the 2025 title.
Second home at the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell was Nigel Cromie (Porsche GT3 Cup 992) ahead of Luke Manson (Porsche GT3 Cup 992), Steve Brooks (Porsche GT3 Cup 992) and Vin Schelp (Porsche GT3 Cup 992).
Michel’s has been quickest over the three-round series, with three pole positions, but has had to work hard to win the overall title.
“It’s nice to wrap up the series with a pole and a win today at Highlands,” commented Michels.
“We threw everything at it today, as we need this result so badly. Thanks to the team and sponsors. It means heaps to us all as we are very much a family team. It’s made just that little bit more satisfying after the last round of heartbreak.”
Michels should have won the second round at his home track a fortnight ago after leading for 51 minutes before a gearbox issue dropped him down the order to finish fifth.
Heading into the final third round, Michels was third overall, just three points behind the second-placed pairing of Steve Brooks and Bill Riding.
With an 18-point advantage, overall leader, Hugh Gardiner, who had won the first two rounds, did not enter the finale, thus opening the title fight between Brooks/Riding, Michels, Paul Kelly (Porsche GT3 Cup 992), and Schelp.
A long safety car period on Saturday at Highlands saw a delay of compulsory pit stops until after the halfway mark.
While Michels had the race under control, behind him was some of the best racing of the day, particularly between a gaggle of Porsche drivers for the remaining podium positions, with Cromie coming out on top.
We threw everything at it today, as we need this result so badly. Big thanks to the team and sponsors. It means heaps to us all as we are very much a family team.
“That was amazing,” said Cromie.
“This is a track that I like, so it’s an awesome race. I didn’t think I had enough pace, but it seemed to all come together and with a bit of luck.”
In the individual Class competitions, Michels picks up the Class 1 title while Vin Schelp’s consistency across three races sees him win Class 2 ahead of John Beck (Porsche 991.1) and Jaden Ransley (Ford Falcon SuperTourer).
The Class 3 title went to Steve Scoles (Ginetta G56) ahead of Pel Arnott (Hyundai i30N TCR) and Russell McKenzie (Porsche Cayman GT4RS).
Overall Points – 2025 SIERDC 1hr Class 1,2&3 Endurance Series:
| Position | Drivers | Car | Class | Points |
| 1 | Jordan Michels | Marc II Mustang | 1 | 264 |
| 2 | Steve Brooks/Bill Ridin | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 | 254 |
| 3 | Paul Kelly | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 | 241 |
| 4 | Vin Schelp | Porsche GT3 Cup S | 2 | 225 |
| 5 | Garry Derrick | Porsche 991.2 | 1 | 199 |
| 6 | Hugh Gardiner | Porsche 991.2 | 1 | 190 |
| 7 | Steve Scoles | Ginetta G56 | 3 | 190 |
| 8 | Pel Arnott | Hyundai I30N TC | 3 | 184 |
| 9 | Nigel Cromie | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 | 169 |
| 10 | Jaden Ransley | Ford Falcon Supertourer | 2 | 162 |
| 11 | Russell McKenzie | Porsche Cayman GT4RS | 3 | 150 |
| 12 | Blake Knowles | Porsche 997 | 2 | 146 |
| 13 | Martin Dippie/Allan Dippie | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 | 143 |
| 14 | John Beck | Porsche 991.1 | 2 | 140 |
| 15 | Michael Bushell/George McFarlane | Porsche GT3 Cup 996 | 3 | 134 |
Race Results – One Hour South Island Endurance Series Rnd 3 – Overall for Class 1,2,3:
| Position | Drivers | Car | Class |
| 1 | Jordan Michels | Marc II Mustang | 1 |
| 2 | Nigel Cromie | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 |
| 3 | Luke Manson | Porsche 992 | 1 |
| 4 | Steve Brooks/Bill Riding | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 |
| 5 | Vin Schelp/M Schelp | Porsche GT3 Cup S | 2 |
| 6 | Blake Knowles | Porsche 997 | 2 |
| 7 | Paul Kelly | Porsche GT3 Cup 992 | 1 |
| 8 | Steve Scoles/Paul Blomqvist | Ginetta G56 | 3 |
| 9 | Garry Derrick | Porsche 991.2 | 1 |
| 10 | Pel Arnott | Hyundai I30N TCR | 3 |
| 11 | Dylan Petch/Gene Rollinson | Hyundai I30N TCR | 3 |
| 12 | Dwayne Carter | Lamborghini Super Trofeo | 1 |
| 13 | Grant Aitken | Porsche GT4 | 3 |
| 14 | Craig Mitchell | Ginetta G55 | 3 |
| 15 | Steve Sullivan/Taylor Bryant | Porsche 991 | 2 |
| 16 | Russell McKenzie | Porsche Cayman GT4RS, | 3 |
| 17 | James Paterson | Audi R8 Turbo | 3 |
| 18 | John MacKay | Cupra TCR | 3 |
| 19 | John Beck | Porsche 991.1 | 2 |
| 20 | Grant Askew | Volkswagon Golf TCR | 3 |
| 21 | Kent Quinn/Caleb Paterson | Porsche Cayman GT4RS | 3 |
| DNF | Michael Bushell/George McFarlane | Porsche GT3 Cup 996 | 3 |
| DNF | Warren Black | Audi RS3 LMS TCR | 3 |
| DNF | Nick Wright | Porsche 991 | 2 |
Header Image: Richard Opie Photography
