MEDIA RELEASE

8 MARCH 2008

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE UNDERWAY AT TERETONGA 

A good crowd enjoyed the opening day of the Hydraulink 200 Finale at Teretonga Park near Invercargill today.

The event features the final rounds of many of New Zealand's major national motor racing championships. Today featured qualifying plus the first round of races for the various classes.

Defending champion and series leader John McIntyre of Nelson failed to finish the opening race of the weekend in the New Zealand V8s Championship when his engine blew early in the race. His closest rivals, Kayne Scott of Hamilton and Aucklander Angus Fogg, finished first and third respectively to allow Fogg to close to within fifty-five points of McIntyre. 

In the Toyota Racing Series, Andy Knight of Christchurch returned to the top of the points table after losing the championship lead to Earl Bamber of Wanganui at Timaru last weekend. Bamber came to Teretonga with an eleven point lead but after Knight raced to second place today while Bamber finished sixth after starting from the pitlane, the Canterbury driver is now eleven points in front. Meanwhile Michael Burdett took his debut victory in the class.

Other winners today were Daniel Gaunt in the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup, Craig Innes in the MINI Challenge, Caine Lobb in the MTA Formula Ford Championship, Zane Coppins in the Production Racing Championship and Michael Bristow in the First Windows & Doors V8 Development Series.         

Tomorrow the champions in most of the categories will be found while the Production Racing Series and the V8 Development Series have one further round.

V8 fans can participate in a banner competition to support their favourite brand -  Ford or Holden - during tomorrow's lunch interval.

Tomorrow's action commences at 9.10am and admission for the final day of the country's major motor racing championships costs $35.

Lindsay Beer

Publicity Officer

Southland Sports Car Club

021 351 499