Classic Conclusion Coming In ENZED V8 Utes

ENZED V8 Utes Press Release

16 APRIL 2011

Classic Conclusion Coming In ENZED V8 Utes

The 2010/2011 ENZED V8 Ute Challenge is heading for a classic conclusion on the streets of Hamilton tomorrow.

The leading championship contenders Chris Pither and Caine Lobb had a coming together in the first race of the final round today setting up an epic battle for the title in the final two races of the season tomorrow. Pither recovered to finish second today while Lobb retired. Ironically the other driver still in contention for the title, Simon Beirne of Christchurch, picked his way through the carnage to win today’s race.

The result sees Pither snatch the points lead for the first time in the series with Lobb who had led since the opening round now 11 points behind and Beirne third, 81 points off the lead.

Pither, ‘The Gypsy’ was on pole and Lobb ‘The Ginja Ninja’ fourth on the grid as steady rain fell as the V8 Ute competitors lined up for the race. Both made good starts, Pither leading into the tight first corner with Lobb getting through to second. However as they exited the corner the two tangled. Pither dropped to sixth place while Lobb parked the Mark Cromie Holden with suspension damage.

Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot was the initial beneficiary of the incident as he picked his way through to the lead ahead of Peter ‘Kaos’ Ward. At the start of the second lap ‘Jnr Burner’ (Beirne) in the Team McDonald’s Falcon made his move and took the lead. Ward settled into third although he had suffered bodywork damage on the opening lap in his Ward Demolition Holden.

Pither brought his Gallagher XR8 Falcon back up to second place by the beginning of lap four while Ward headed to the pits when officials ordered him to do so to remove the loose bodywork.

Beirne, Pither and Lightfoot settled into the top three places but behind them a battle royal raged for the duration of the race with plenty of positional changes.

Geoff ‘SOS’ Spencer of Palmerston North fared best in a stunning battle taking fourth place at the flag after coming through from ninth on the grid in The Barn Company Holden. Graham ‘Snr Burner’ Beirne was in the thick of the action before taking fifth in the John Jones Steel Falcon ahead of Karaka driver James ‘Huggi’ Urquhart who put in an impressive drive. Front row starter Jeff ‘Ripples’ Kernohan in the KCL Contracting Falcon was next ahead of Dave ‘The Boss’ Stewart of Wellington in the Metro Brick Holden and Scott ‘Precious’ McKelvie in the ICOM Holden. Australian Brett ‘Big Nutz’ Holdsworth rounded out the top ten after an eventful race in his TTM Group/PriPark Falcon.

There was no denying ‘Junior Burner’ however. He dominated the race and crossed the line almost 18 seconds in front of Pither who nursed a badly damaged ute home in second ahead of Lightfoot in the BSL Falcon.

Beirne was delighted with the victory. “I felt the circuit out over the first two laps and the Ute just came to me. I am very happy.”

Pither gave his account of the incident that may determine the series, “Caine ran into me and I went sideways and then off to the inside of the track. I had a tyre rubbing after the incident and Simon had good speed at the front so I backed off to bring it home.”

A disappointed Lobb said his ute felt good into the first corner. “It felt so good. I had so much more drive than Chris out of the corner. I pulled out to pass and clipped Chris. When I got alongside he started to fishtail.”

The series now reaches an exciting conclusion tomorrow with two races, the first at 8.45am and the final race of the series commencing at 11.45am.

All three title contenders will be near the back of the grid for the first of those races ensuring plenty more action before this series is decided.

Support for the category comes from ENZED, UDC Finance, Radio Hauraki, Yokohama, Castrol, Citizen Watches, Exedy, Armorall, SCT and EFILive.

Series website - www.v8utes.co.nz

Series Points: (After Round 6)
Lobb – 1554, Pither – 1483, S Beirne – 1402, McKelvie – 1044, Lightfoot – 974, Spencer – 948, Robb – 896, Ward – 865, G Beirne – 698, J Kernohan – 688, Urquhart – 679, D Kernohan – 656, Hanley – 600, Stewart - 505, Waite – 432, Jarvis – 419, Grove – 164, Morton – 146, Pero - 75

QUALIFYING
1: Chris Pither – Queensland (Ford) 1 minute 41.2320
2: Simon Beirne – Christchurch (Ford) 1.42.2030
3: Caine Lobb - Whangarei (Holden) 1.43.6776
4: Brett Holdsworth – Brisbane (Ford) 1.43.8693
5: Scott McKelvie – Auckland (Holden) 1.44.0197
6: Mike Lightfoot – Auckland (Ford) 1.44.0201
7: Peter Ward – Auckland (Holden) 1.44.1506
8: Dave Stewart – Wellington (Holden) 1.44.4411
9: Graham Beirne – Christchurch (Ford) 1.45.1791
10: James Urquhart – Karaka (Holden) 1.45.3281
11: Peter Robb – Wanganui (Holden) 1.45.5402
12: Geoff Spencer – Palmerston North (Holden) 1.45.7360
13: Jeff Kernohan – Turangi (Ford) 1.46.2300
14: David Kernohan – Turangi (Ford) 1.46.5254
15: Mark Joblin – Hamilton (Ford) 1.53.9919

RACE 1 (MARBLE DRAW) 8 LAPS
1:Simon Beirne
2:Chris Pither
3:Mike Lightfoot
4:Geoff Spencer
5:Graham Beirne
6:James Urquhart
7:Jeff Kernohan
8: Dave Stewart
9:Scott McKelvie
10: Brett Holdsworth
11:Peter Ward
12:David Kernohan
13:Peter Robb
DNF:Caine Lobb
DNS: Mark Joblin

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