Lawrence re-claims Suzuki series lead after final race win

Media release:

Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup

For immediate release:  Sunday 26 May 2013.

Lawrence re-claims Suzuki series lead after final race win

The weekend’s torrid third round for the 2013 Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup see-sawed between title contenders Andrew Vincent and Shaun Lawrence with a final race win at the Pukekohe Raceway returning Lawrence to the top of the table.

Following on from Saturday’s treacherous wet mini endurance race, Vincent, from Karaka, took the early advantage to open a gap on the chasing ten car field. That came under threat in this morning’s eight lap reverse grid race when Hamilton’s Lawrence closed the gap to half a point for the title.
An eight lap reverse grid race, rookie Cam Christie from Auckland started from pole and led the field until he was up-ended at the fourth turn on the opening lap. At the restart Hamilton’s Glen Collinson leapt to the lead until the race was again stopped, on the third lap. Lower Hutt’s Grant Ryan, who rolled in early weekend practise, ended up head first in to the concrete walling at the start of the back straight.

While Collinson took the flag first, Vincent finished behind Lawrence to further narrow the title chase.

The afternoon finale saw Lawrence take an early lead – while the rest of the chasing pack took every advantage to draft the car in front for sling-shot passing opportunities in clearer conditions. Meanwhile Lawrence comfortably stretched his advantage from the jostling chasers and Sam Barry got in to the clutches of a charging Josh Drysdale. Finishing 0.05sec ahead at the chequered flag he was one point off taking second for the weekend from Vincent, who finished fourth for the race.

“I’m absolutely rapt. The car has been good all weekend and even though Saturday’s enduro was wet it was a lot of fun – I had a ball,” said Lawrence.

“We had a good hunch if we kept our head down we would finish on the podium this weekend – but to come away with the round win was a better result that we planned so I’m stoked.

"It was definitely a challenging. Everyone has picked up their game – despite the conditions. Andrew [Vincent] was on fire – continuing his form from the last round but it was unfortunate for Grant [Ryan] as it would be great to have been having battles with him as well. But full credit to him for the work he put in to keep his car running this weekend despite everything that went wrong.”

Unfortunately for Ryan, lack of points dropped him from third and helped elevate Takapau’s Sam Barry to third, for the round and overall.

Behind Hamilton’s Collinson, Castrol Scholarship winner Josh Drysdale from Palmerston North moved to fifth overall – and leading rookie. While he came through unscathed despite missing a race placing advantage early in the morning, series co-ordinator Paul Burborough was happy to have all the cars return in one piece.

“It was a tough weekend for many different reasons,” said Burborough. “The weather varied greatly and created a number of related compounding issues. That further tested the teams and their desire to continue and I think nothing said it better than their want to run the enduro race in atrocious conditions yesterday. Finishing in the dark was a new experience and despite the weekend’s timetable stretching out we still had some great racing. Significantly the camaraderie amongst the teams to get in and help at getting other people’s cars to the start line. Unfortunately for Grant Ryan he never got the points he deserved for the effort he and his crew put in.”

The series now hibernates for the winter with competition resuming 1 September at the Taupo Motorsport Park.
It will be the fourth of six rounds for the 2013 title.

2013 Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup
Points after round three (of six) – provisional

Results

Race three:
http://www.mylaps.com/en/classification/2684221

Race two:
http://www.mylaps.com/en/classification/2683263

Race one:
http://www.mylaps.com/en/classification/2681229

Qualifying:
http://www.mylaps.com/en/classification/2681228
Car 35 and 96 were later penalised.

For further information: www.swiftcup.co.nz
Ticketing information: www.v8st.co.nz
Weekend race programme information: http://www.v8st.co.nz/series/round-3.html

ENDS

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