Super Trucks Thrill The Crowds At Teretonga

MEDIA RELEASE
14 JANUARY 2013

Super Trucks Thrill The Crowds At Teretonga

The Super Trucks returned to Teretonga Park after a lengthy absence this weekend and the crowds absolutely loved it!

The Mobil Delvac 1 Super Trucks were a hit with the crowd as they battled it out in two races each day.

This was the first of five rounds of Super Truck racing in New Zealand and Australian visitor Steven Zammit, the current New Zealand and Trans-Tasman Champion, got his title defence off to the best possible start as he won the round in his Kenworth T401. Zammit won two of the races while Troy Wheeler of Papakura took the other championship race while the finale was a non-championship event won by Timaru driver John Hepburn.

After Sundays prizegiving Zammit paid tribute to the Southland Sports Car Club who operate Teretonga Park and Shane Gray the President of the NZ Truck Racing Association. "The club here at Teretonga were fantastic - they could not have been more helpful. I couldn't have got here without Shane who is out there racing with us either. New Zealanders are pretty accommodating. They are unique in that respect. It's been great!' This was Zammit's first visit to Teretonga, and he was impressed. "It's an absolutely fantastic circuit," he said looking back on his first outing on the track.

Papakura driver Troy Wheeler was second overall for the weekend while Brent Jones of Ashburton was third after the three championship races. Zammit also took Class A honours from Jones and Hepburn who tied for second with Shane Gray third and Ken Rowe fourth. Wheeler won Class B.

Wheeler won Saturdays opening race in his ex-Denny Hulme Scania from Zammit and Hepburn in a Kenworth W900. The second race, a reverse grid event, went to Zammit from Jones in his Bedford and Lower Hutt driver Shane Gray.

Another reverse grid contest on Sunday saw Jones get a good lead before Zammit and Wheeler came through to lead him home.

The final race was a non-championship affair. Hepburn took the race from Jones and Wheeler.

Ken Rowe of Hamilton had an unhappy weekend after he broke a crank and missed Saturdays races. A borrowed engine had him on track on Sunday although he retired from the first race before completing the finale. Gray, who narrowly missed out on winning last years New Zealand Championship, also battled a few issues over the course of the weekend in his new truck. "It wasn't our weekend but I'm pretty happy. It's been awesome coming here - it is a good track!"

The Super Trucks raced at Teretonga Park thanks to the support of Mobil Delvac 1. They will be back in action next weekend at Timaru International Motor Raceway at Levels near Timaru.

Photos - Steven Zammit goes off track as Wheeler, Hepburn and Gray pounce / Zammit powers through the Teretonga turns - Credit: Mark Purdue

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