Ross takes early lead

The major domestic motor racing championships began at Pukekohe last weekend, providing the support programme for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

In the BNT New Zealand V8s Championship it was Cambridge driver Nick Ross who has gained the early series lead, taking two wins and a second placing from the three races at Pukekohe.

Ross and his Total Lubricants Nissan Altima finished second in Saturday’s opening race behind Australian Jack Smith (Holden Commodore), before leading the young Aussie home in the final two races on Sunday. Smith’s teammate, Lance Hughes of Hamilton, finished third in all three races in his Holden Commodore.

The final race of the weekend saw Ross lead for much of it, before an aggressive move by Smith saw him sneak past at the hairpin. Smith looked to cruise into the distance and take the win when catching a backmarker at the hairpin he was forced him wide onto the grass and allowed Ross to retake the lead with just two laps to go.

The race was red flagged with one lap to go when the Ford Falcon of Class Three competitor Nigel Karl (Auckland) stopped on the front straight on fire.

Ross says it was a satisfying way to

JACK WAS PRETTY AGGRESSIVE IN THAT LAST RACE, WHICH IS FINE, THAT’S HOW YOU WANT IT TO BE — HARD CLOSE RACING.

start his championship campaign.

“We actually could have had three wins, but we had a brake issue which hampered us, and let Jack by into the lead in that first race,” said Ross.

“I have to give credit to the Hamilton Motorsports team, those two cars are hooked up and are fast. We had to fight all the way to keep in front of them, especially Jack. He’s very fast this year.

“Jack was pretty aggressive in that last race, which is fine, that’s how you want it to be — hard close racing.”

Smith’s second position in the championship could be altered with post race investigations under way. Nissan Altima driver Nick Ross has taken the early lead in the BNT New Zealand V8s Championship.

During race three, Smith made contact with the Toyota Camry of Scott Taylor (Australia) at the hairpin, which sent the Toyota driver into the side of the Holden of Matt Tubbs (Hamilton), forcing both cars out of the race.

It was also a tough weekend for Chelsea Herbert (Auckland) in her Toyota Camry, failing to finish race two with an alternator issue, and then failing to make the start of race three. Her Toyota teammate Brenton Grove (Australia) also suffered the same alternator issue in race two.

Class two of the Championship was won by Brock Timperley (Hamilton), who claimed two pole positions and three race wins in his Ford Falcon leading home the Falcons of Matt Podjursky and Justin Ashwell.

The BNT V8s return to Pukekohe for round two on December 8-9.