Lightfoot wraps up runner up spot at Pukekohe

Lightfoot wraps up runner up spot at Pukekohe

Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot has wrapped up a career best runner up spot in the 2013 UDC V8 Ute championship after recording fourth for the final round of the series at Pukekohe over the weekend.

Lightfoot entered the weekend confident of a good result having taken a round win last time the series visited the high-speed circuit and was immediately on the pace, recording the third fastest time in qualifying.

The race one grid was determined by a marble draw and Lightfoot took the dubious honour of drawing the 12th and final spot. But he didn’t let that slow him down and having made two places on the opening lap, continued to move forwards to sixth place at the end of the eight lap race.

With his race one result, Lightfoot needed only to beat Peter Ward in race two to secure second in the championship and by virtue of the reverse marble draw grid, would start the race on pole position. Despite suffering from a worn synchromesh on third gear, Lightfoot was able to hold off a late challenge from Ward to take third place and secure second in the series.

The third and final race saw Lightfoot starting from third after his previous race results but within several corners, was forced to the back of the field after the Precision Racing Greenlane Osteopathy Ute was pushed off the track by Australian driver Kris Walton.

Charging back through the field, Lightfoot was caught out overtaking a car when yellow flags were displayed. Blinded from the flag by the vehicle he was overtaking, Lightfoot would eventually be penalised six seconds for the move, enough to drop him from fourth to eighth, also costing him third for the round.

“It’s great to take second in the series, we’ve had a great season and I really need to thank my whole team for their work this season,” said Lightfoot. “What happened in the final race was frustrating and unfortunate, but I’m absolutely stoked to have taken second place for the series.”

Lightfoot and his team now look towards making plans for the 2014 season.

Press Release by BB Media

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