Mcintyre Wins Dramatic BNT V8s Race

John Mcintyre Wins Dramatic Bnt V8s Race 1 In Hamilton.

Nelson racing driver John McIntyre has powered his Talleys Falcon to victory in the opening BNT V8s race supporting the V8 Supercars at the ITM 400 in Hamilton today. McIntyre was superb as he started from position three on the second row of the starting grid and survived a torrid first corner where several cars received damage after a frenetic start.

Hamilton home town hero Kayne Scott (Fujitsu Heat Pumps Falcon) took 2nd place but was fortunate to do so after surviving light contact with the concrete walls on the final lap and mounting an earlier challenge for the race lead. Christchurch’s Andy Knight (Radio Live Falcon) came home 3rd after a dramatic start which saw him mount an early assault on the race leaders.

With the meeting running behind schedule, the race was reduced from 12 to 9 laps which virtually set it up as an all or nothing sprint. As the cars left the rolling start, an immediate concertina effect resulted with several drivers attempting to gain places under braking for the tight Turn 1. Andy Knight was the first to make an advantage after forcing his way inside McIntyre to move into 3rd behind Kayne Scott and pole position sitter Tim Edgell (Chesters Falcon).

After the race, McIntyre was fuming over the driving standards at the start which saw his car receive considerable damage down the driver’s side. Other cars damaged included Andy Booth, Dean Perkins and Darryn Henderson whose bonnet flew up over his windscreen obstructing his view. Angus Fogg was also a victim of contact on Turn 2 which broke a rear wheel causing him to spin on Turn 3 and eventually retire with a bent differential.

By Lap 2, Edgell led Scott with McIntyre passing Knight for 3rd but further drama was to follow on Lap 7 when Edgell’s car suffered a right rear brake caliper failure causing him to spin on Turn 1. Scott took evading action but was passed by McIntyre who took full advantage to take the lead he was to hold until the finish. While Edgell was disappointed to suffer such misfortune, he could at least take comfort in the fact he had set a new BNT V8s lap record of 1min 31.9669 secs.

Behind the leaders, further drama was unfolding as the tight and twisty street circuit caught the unwary including Paul Manuell who dropped two places from 8th by nearly overshooting Turn 1. Simon Richards, John Whelan and David Hopper all suffered damage and punctures while John Penny’s good drive to hold off Clark Proctor, Manuell and Nick Ross ended with a spin under braking at the hairpin.

As people held their breath while Scott grazed the walls on the final lap, Manuell also suffered a spin at Turn 7 only to be hit amidships by Penny while recovering to regain his position. Both cars finished the race but with considerable damage.

BNT V8s action tomorrow will feature two races of 12 and 16 laps scheduled to start at 9:15 am and 1:15 pm respectively. The finishing order from today’s race will form the starting grid for the morning race while the final race grid will be set according to the combined results of the two previous races.

Driver Quotes:

John McIntyre (Nelson) – Car No. 47 – Talleys Ford Falcon:

“The first corner was really tough as it is often better to sit back and see what happens. Once I got back into 3rd I thought I would see if the front two got together. As it happens, Tim’s brakes went away while Kayne couldn’t pull his car up in time so I was able to take advantage.”

Kayne Scott (Hamilton) – Car No. 99 – Fujitsu Heat Pumps Ford Falcon:

“It was the old poisoned chalice of starting on Grid 2 but I think I did a good job of surviving that first corner by holding 2nd. You have to mix it up a bit to stay there and that is what we will have to do again off Grid 2 tomorrow.”

Andy Knight (Christchurch) – Car No. 97 – Radio Live Ford Falcon:

“That is the first podium we have had since our home races at Ruapuna last November so I am really hoping we can continue that way for tomorrow’s races.”

ENDS

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