Chequered Flag Falls On Teretonga Season

MEDIA RELEASE
17 MARCH 2013

Chequered Flag Falls On Teretonga Season

The chequered flag fell on the 2012/2013 motor race season at Teretonga Park in Invercargill on Sunday.

Much needed rain fell at times during the event presented by Downer, creating a variety of track conditions.

Russell Keeler of Gore dominated the NZ Six Saloon races. He qualified fastest and won all three races, the first by more than 13 seconds from Bryce Thompson of Dunedin and Wayne Christie of Christchurch. In the second race Keeler came from the back of the grid to lead home Thompson and Ashley Hooper of Dunedin. Thompson and Hooper were again second and third in the finale. All four contenders drove Falcons.

The Pro 7 Saloons provided plenty of close racing. Daniel Taylor of Timaru won the first race narrowly from fellow Timaru competitor George Gilbert and Mal Walters of Leeston while an eventful second race went to James Askew of Christchurch from Taylor and Mitchell Hamilton of Timaru. Taylor won the decider from Askew and Gilbert.

The Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans fields were well subscribed with competitors split into two sections. In Class A the opening race was won by Colin Dawson of Invercargill in his Mazda RX7 V8 after a battle with Robert Ralston of Invercargill in a Nissan Silvia. Darryn Andrews of Lincoln was third in his Nissan Primera turbo after getting past Invercargill driver Dion Dawson in a Nissan Silvia late in the race. Colin Dawson also took the second race from Ralston while Dion Dawson again held third well into the race before youngster Liam MacDonald came through to take the place in his NZV8 Falcon.

The first Class B race was won by Nathan Pilcher of Dunedin in a Holden Commodore from another Dunedin driver, Brian Scott in a Chev Corvette, and newcomer John Waldron of Alexandra in a Nissan Skyline R32. Waldron snatched victory in the second race from Pilcher with another newcomer, Rhys Turner of Dunedin, third in a Honda Civic.

Brent Cross used the 4-wheel-drive traction of his Mitsubishi EVO to burst into the lead of the 2501cc & over class race at the start and lead all the way. Behind him Robert Ralston and Liam MacDonald had a good battle until MacDonald got by and pulled away to take second.

In the other class race Bradley Dawson won the 1301-1600cc section in his Toyota Trueno, Walter Willmott the 0-1300cc class in his rapid Holden Star Car and Jeff Vincent of Invercargill the 1601-2500cc group in his Honda Civic.

Robert Ralston won the Flying Farewell after passing the fast starting MacDonald who held off Andrews and Cross to take second.

The season was rounded out with the A1 Auto Services 1 Hour Endurance race won by Darryn Andrews from Bradley Dawson and Jeremy Dawson.
Attached photographs - Russell Keeler & Liam MacDonald - please credit Kevin Thomson Southspeed

Russell Keeler 2013

Liam MacDonald March 2013

ENDS

© Scoop Media