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MEDIA RELEASE
31 OCTOBER 2009
PITHER MAKES STRONG START TO NZV8 UTES SERIES
Three drivers made the early running at the opening round of the 2009/2010 NZV8 Utes Series at Taupo Motorsport Park last weekend. However it was Chris Pither of Palmerston North who made a perfect start to the season, dominating proceedings throughout both qualifying and racing.
Pither, 'The Doctor', set the fastest time in qualifying and then went on to win all three races in his ENZED Falcon to leave Taupo with maximum points. His efforts have given him an early 26 point lead over defending NZV8 Ute Champion, Caine Lobb, the 'Ginja Ninja', of Whangarei who qualified his Mark Cromie Holden fourth and then went on to take two seconds and a third over the course of the three races.
Rookie Simon Grace of Christchurch in another Holden made a fine start to his first season in the class, qualifying third fastest before accumulating enough points to end the weekend third in the point standings.
The only other drivers to make an impression on Pither, Lobb and Grace were Graham Beirne 'Snr Burner' who did a fine job to qualify second fastest in his John Jones Steel Falcon and Bob 'Sly & Dirty' Grove who took third place in the opening race on Saturday.
Pither, who has spent much of his career in Australia racing in their V8 Utes Series as well as in the V8 Development and V8 Supercar Series was making just his second start in the NZV8 Utes Series. In his only previous appearance at the final round last season he was second behind Lobb, Pither winning two of the four races. This weekend he was untouchable and very happy with the good start to the series."It couldn't have been better," he stated on Sunday evening. His fastest qualifying time was set in just two laps, he came through from tenth on the grid to win the first race and led from the front in both of Sunday's races.
Defending champion, Lobb, wasn't too despondent over his rivals flying start to the series. "It was a pretty smooth round, we just weren't as fast as we would have liked. Taupo isn't the strongest circuit for the VE Commodore so to get these points here is a good start to the season."
Grace and his team were rapt with third overall in the Wunderfloor Commodore. "Our ultimate goal was to make the top three but realistically we would have been happy with the top five. Grace has a background in South Island Formula Ford but spent a season in Super 6 Saloons last year to gain experience in a saloon car. He adapted quickly, winning the championship on debut. Comparing the Holden Ute to his previous drives he said, "it's a bit different, there's a lot more weight. By the time qualifying came around I was in the groove. We're right on track with a slightly older ute. We'll try and keep in the top three and then look at closing on Caine and Chris."
The opening shots have been fired but past experience shows that form in the NZV8 Utes Series can change dramatically from round to round.
The next outing for the NZV8 Utes Series and the IRC Summer Of Thunder Tour takes place at the "Thunder In The Park' meeting at Pukekohe Park Raceway over the weekend of 5/6 December.
The NZV8 Utes Series enjoys support from corporate partners, ENZED, Radio Hauraki, Yokohama and Penrite for this season while the NZV8 Utes are managed by category manager, Jamie Kett of Event 1.
Lindsay Beer
on behalf of NZV8 Utes
021 351 499
For more information please utilise the following:
Jamie Kett Category Manager jamie@nzv8uteracing.co.nz 027 443 0800
Photographs: please credit - SportProMedia.com - Defending champion Caine Lobb is challenged by round winner Chrs Pither at the front of the pack QUALIFYING 1 - Chris Pither (Ford): 2 - Graham Beirne (Ford); 3 - Simon Grace (Holden); 4 - Caine Lobb (Holden); 5 - David Kernohan (Ford); 6 - Geoff Spencer (Holden); 7 - Mike Pero (Holden); 8 - James Urquhart (Holden); 9 - Peter Robb (Holden); 10 - Bob Grove (Ford); 11 - Steve Elliott (Holden); DNS - Craig Paterson (Ford) RACE 1 (10 LAPS) 1 - Pither; 2 - Lobb; 3 - Grove; 4 - Beirne; 5 - Robb; 6 - Spencer; 7 - Pero; 8 - Kernohan; 9 - Urquhart; 10 - Grace; 11 - Elliott; DNS - Paterson RACE 2 (10 LAPS) 1 - Pither; 2 - Grace; 3 - Lobb; 4 - Beirne; 5 - Spencer; 6 - Robb; 7 - Urquhart; 8 - Kernohan; 9 - Pero; 10 - Elliott; DNF - Grove; DNS - Paterson RACE 3 (14 LAPS) 1 - Pither; 2 - Lobb; 3 - Grace; 4 - Robb; 5 - Kernohan; 6 - Spencer; 7 - Pero; 8 - Urquhart; 9 - Grove; 10 - Elliott; DNF - Beirne; DNS - Paterson POINTS Pither - 156; Lobb - 130; Grace - 120; Spencer - 109; Robb - 108; Kernohan - 106; Pero - 102; Urquhart - 100; Beirne - 93; Elliott - 90; Grove - 78; NZV8 Utes Calendar 2009/2010:
Round 1: Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo - 23-25 October 2009 "V8 Attack" Round 2: Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland - 4-6 December 2009 "Thunder In The Park" Round 3: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Meremere - 5-7 February 2010 "TRS International"
Round 4: Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Ruapuna, Christchurch - 19 - 21 March 2010 "Powerbuilt Tools"
Round 5: Timaru International Motor Raceway, Levels, Timaru - 26-28 March 2010 "Truck & Ute Finals" MEDIA RELEASE
24 OCTOBER 2009
PITHER TAKES EARLY POINTS IN NZV8 UTES
New boy Chris Pither made the best start to the season when he dominated the opening day of the 2009/2010 NZV8 Utes Series at the Taupo Motorsport Park at Taupo today.
Pither, 'The Doctor' set the fastest time in qualifying and then went on to win the opening race to take the series points lead from Graham 'Snr' Beirne and defending champion Caine Lobb - 'the Ginja Ninja' after the first day of racing in the series.
Pither took his ENZED Falcon to the fastest time in qualifying, needing only two flying laps to achieve it. Beirne, who has found good speed over the winter months was second fastest with series rookie Simon Grace of Christchurch third in his ex Mike Pero Holden ahead of Lobb. 'Dirty Dave' Kernohan, Geoff 'Spence' Spencer, 'The Loan Ranger' Mike Pero, James 'Huggi' Urquhart, Peter 'Rocketman' Robb, Bob 'Sly & Dirty' Grove and Steve Elliott rounded out the timesheets. Robb had spent the night prior to raceday piloting his chopper to blow the frost off orchards in Hawkes Bay.
While there were points on offer for qualifying the grid for the opening race was decided by marble draw. The mix from the draw saw Grove of Albany into the early lead while behind him Pither and Lobb were involved in a good battle. Pither made it through to the lead on lap 5 after Grove and Lobb tangled at Turn 1. However a misfire that returned from the previous day gave Pither some anxious moments on the way to the flag. The miss cleared just as suddenly as it appeared and he crossed the line to open his account with a good win. Current champion Lobb was second, while Grove grabbed the final podium spot.
Behind them there was plenty of the close racing and rubbing that ute racing provides. Beirne was fourth followed by Robb, Spencer and Pero. Kernohan was next followed by James 'Huggi' Urquhart who kissed the tyre wall at Turn 14 during the race, bouncing off before continuing to finish ninth. Grace and Elliott rounded out the finishers.
Today's qualifying session and opening race took place in beautifully warm, sunny conditions. Tomorrow the NZV8 Ute Series competitors have two more races, the first over 10 laps before the
final race takes place over 14 laps.
The series enjoys support from corporate partners, ENZED, Radio Hauraki, Yokohama and Penrite for this season while the NZV8 Utes are managed by category manager, Jamie Kett of Event 1.
A fantastic line up of classes are part of the line up at Taupo this weekend with the exciting new IRC Summer Series and GTRNZ with three separate classes of big, fast, radical saloons - GT1, GT2 and GTNZ on the programme.
Lindsay Beer
on behalf of NZV8 Utes
021 351 499
For more information please utilise the following:
Jamie Kett Category Manager jamie@nzv8uteracing.co.nz 027 443 0800
QUALIFYING 1 - Chris Pither (Ford): 2 - Graham Beirne (Ford); 3 - Simon Grace (Holden); 4 - Caine Lobb (Holden); 5 - David Kernohan (Ford); 6 - Geoff Spencer (Holden); 7 - Mike Pero (Holden); 8 - James Urquhart (Holden); 9 - Peter Robb (Holden); 10 - Bob Grove (Ford); 11 - Steve Elliott (Holden); RACE 1 (10 LAPS) 1 - Pither; 2 - Lobb; 3 - Grove; 4 - Beirne; 5 - Robb; 6 - Spencer; 7 - Pero; 8 - Kernohan; 9 - Urquhart; 10 - Grace; 11 - Elliott; POINTS Pither - 78; Beirne - 64; Lobb - 64; Grace - 54; Spencer - 54; Grove - 54; Kernohan - 53; Pero - 52; Robb - 52; Urquhart - 49; Elliott - 44; NZV8 Utes Calendar 2009/2010:
Round 1: Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo - 23-25 October 2009 "V8 Attack" Round 2: Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland - 4-6 December 2009 "Thunder In The Park" Round 3: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Meremere - 5-7 February 2010 "TRS International"
Round 4: Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Ruapuna, Christchurch - 19 - 21 March 2010 "Powerbuilt Tools"
Round 5: Timaru International Motor Raceway, Levels, Timaru - 26-28 March 2010 "Truck & Ute Finals"
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