Great Opening Day For Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest

Great Opening Day For Evolution Motorsport Classic Speedfest

The crowd at the opening day of the Evolution Motorsport Classic SpeedFest were able to enjoy some superb motor racing at Teretonga Park near Invercargill today.

The fields at this years SpeedFest are some of the best for many years and the quality of the racing was excellent. One of the highlights this year is the return of the big, bold and noisy Formula 5000 single seater racing cars and they did not disappoint.

Canadian driver Jay Esterer took the opening day honours in the AJ Auto Electrical Formula 5000 class. Esterer set a fantastic qualifying time of 54.00 seconds in his McRae GM1, just .304 of a second faster than kiwi icon Ken Smith in a Lola T430.

In the 8 lap race, the first contest of three over the weekend, Esterer got a break on Smith at the start and they stayed that way until the finish. Behind them Steve Ross of Dunedin in another McRae worked his way through from fifth on the grid to finish third while Tony Richards of Christchurch, Andrew Higgins of Auckland and Peter Dunn of Monaco completed the top six after a good battle.

Esterer also competed in the Southern Paints Racing Car Class in a Van Diemen but after finishing third in the opening race he cartwheeled off the track in the second, badly damaging the car but emerging uninjured. Invercargill driver Dave McKenzie drove his Reynard to a debut victory in the opening race, leading home Christchurch driver Greg Long in a Swift SE3 and Esterer. Munro Tall of Queenstown won the second from Dave Arrowsmith of Christchurch in a Swift DB4 with McKenzie third.

Brett Stevens of Motueka qualified his Ford Sierra fastest in the Jesco Historic Touring Cars but started both races from the rear of the grid. In the first he made great progress finishing second behind event sponsor Rick Michels of Evolution Motorsport in Invercargill in his BMW M3. Allan Dippie of Dunedin was third in a Rover followed by another Dunedin driver Stephen Grellet in another BMW.

Stevens was charging through the field again in the second when the Ford expired. Michels looked on target for an easy win but Conrad Timms of Auckland in a BMW M3 nipped into the lead with a lap to go. However in the sprint to the line Michels grabbed the race back with Timms second. Dippie spun at the final corner handing third place to Gary Johnstone of Rolleston in a Jaguar XJS.

Guy Stewart of Christchurch won both "big banger" saloon races today in the Ray White Real Estate & Turntru Machining Classic Saloons Class. Pole sitter Brendan Mason of Invercargill led the opening race initially before his Camaro fell back leaving Stewart in a Porsche GT2 to take over. Jack Ondrack of Canada in a TVR Tuscan came through the field to second place after an all night engine rebuild and Tony Mann of Dunedin was third in his Capri. BNT V8 Championship leader Angus Fogg took the wheel of the Robbie Francevic Ford Custaxie for this race. Stewart repeated the effort in the second race as Mason came through to second place ahead of Mann.

Stewart also dominated the Sievwright Autos Sports Car Class, qualifying fastest in the Porsche and then winning both races. Ondrack finished second in the opening race in the TVR after charging from the back of the grid ahead of Chiles while, with Ondrack a non starter, Chiles finished second in the next contest ahead of Steve Scoles of Outram in a Triumph TR8.

The Probuilt Engines Classic Saloons saw local driver Scott O'Donnell qualify fastest but it was Christchurch based Chris Chiles in the Lotus Elan who won both races. O'Donnell was second in both in his Alfa Romeo GTA while Matthew O'Donnell of Christchurch in an Alfa and Doug Erskine of Tuatapere in a Mini shared the third place finishes.

Russell Greer of Blenheim dominated the Southland Times Vintage Car Class, qualifying fastest and then romping away for two very convincing wins in the Stanton Corvette. Ralph Smith of Dunedin in the Lycoming Special trailled Greer home in both of todays races while Graeme Hamilton of Lyttleton in an ACE III and Russ Haines of Ashburton (Frangapelli Holden) shared the third placings.

The Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloon class saw two contrasting races. Bradley Dawson of Invercargill, having his first race in his uncle Colin Dawsons V8 powered Mazda RX7, took pole but was beaten off the line in the first race by Brendan Mason in his Camaro. Dawson shadowed Mason for the entire race but could not get past and Mason duly won from Dawson with Robert Ralston of Invercargill (Nissan Silvia) third. In the second race Dawson blasted off the line best and scorched away leaving Mason to finish second with Ralston again third.

The action continues tomorrow (Sunday) from 9am.

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