Familiar foes await Palmy Panthers
The Palmerston North Panthers will have to get past two of their old foes to make it through qualifying for the Superstock Teams’ Champs beginning in Palmerston North on Saturday night.
The draw for the 12-team Teams’ Champs, which was released Tuesday, has thrown up interesting match ups in each of the four groups.
The 17-time champion Panthers will have to get past two dualwinners in the Nelson Tigers and the Wellington Wildcats in Group A at the Robertson Holden Speedway.
The second Palmerston North team, the Manawatu Mustangs, have been given a tough road to the semifinals facing up with last year’s champions Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes, with outsiders Auckland Allstars the third team in Group D.
In a first, all reserved-seating has been sold out and general admission is well on the way to making the event a 16,000 sell-out.
The Panthers will be favoured to make it to the semifinals but the Wildcats will be a danger.
The Wildcats have had pretty much the same team for the last few seasons with Dale Robertson, Richard Gaskin and Paul Fairbrother joined by the exciting Keegan Levien.
While mass retirements have weakened the Tigers’ chances, they’ve included Adam Groome (Hawke’s Bay) and Dion Mooney (Wanganui).
After a poor effort last season when they failed to win a race, the Panthers have had made one change to their team with Chev Taniwha stepping up from the Mustangs to, surprisingly to many, replace three-time winner Scott Joblin who moves to the Mustangs.
With Peter Bengston leading the team, brilliant attacking driver William Humphries and national champion Simon Joblin, the Panthers are a big threat for an 18th title.
The Hawkeyes, led by Steve Jude, Jason Long, Thomas Stanaway and hard-charging Mike Mclachlan, are as strong as last season and their battle with a powerful looking Mustangs Wayne Hemi, Jordan Dare, Scott and Adam Joblin and Jayden Ward - will be a highlight of qualifying.
The Allstars may not have the name drivers, though Aidan Eustace has had a top debut season, but they’re more than capable of upsetting one or both of their more fancied opponents.
There’s always a group of death and without doubt Group B with the Gisborne Giants, Baypark Busters and Rotorua Rebels is just that.
The Giants are headed by eighttime champion with the Panthers Peter Rees, son Ethan Rees and blockman Gavin Taniwha.
The Busters are captained by Kerry Remnant, who will be appearing in his 21st consecutive teams champs.
The hard-hitting Carl Hodge is a big addition to the team, as is Stratford’s Bruce Williams, who along with debutant Mark Costello, could be the team’s runners.
The Rebels have loads of experience with Bryce Steiner, brothers David and Lance Elsworth with top former stockcar teams racer Damian Orr.
The greatest applause is always saved for Group C favourite the Great Britain Lions.
On paper they look to have the edge on their opponents the Canterbury Glen Eagles and the Stratford Scrappers.
The Scrappers will rate their chances with Paul and Gary Johnson, Clint Hill and Carl Shearer.
In the semifinals it will be the top-ranked qualifier based on points against the lowest qualifier, with the second and third qualifiers taking on each other.