McLean claims first senior speedway title

AWESOME: Thomas McLean has won the first feature race of his career.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Up-and-coming speedway driver Thomas McLean won the first feature race of his career, claiming the Championship driver title at the King Country TQ Midget Championship at Kihikihi Speedway.

After starting from an undesirable 12th place on the grid in the opening heat on Saturday, McLean tried to go high, but after gaining no advantage chose to move down again and began to mow through the field achieving an impressive fourth place from the field of 17.

The random marble draw dealt him a tough spot for the opening race, but with the remarkable fourth place the day was proving to be very exciting for the next two heats.

"The car felt awesome as, though it was on rails and I drove it to fourth. I wasn't happy (with the 12th) but it turned out to be okay as this meant I would then have a front and middle grid for the other two heats," said McLean.

In the second heat McLean struggled with an unresponsive car after a restart but still managed to move from his fifth place start to claim his first podium of the day with a third place.

It wasn't until after the race it was discovered he had a puncture in the front left tyre.

For heat three McLean was starting off in seventh where yet another example of fine racing earned him a couple of spots and a fifth place finish which would go a long way to being rewarded with a strong position from where to start the feature race.

"With three good finishes it put me off grid two for the feature. I was well pleased as it's grid two that controls the start." said McLean.

The 17-year-old Whangarei driver clinched the start and immediately took the lead while daring not to look back.

He kept his eyes forward, winning his first feature race with no apparent threat or serious challenge from behind all the way to the chequered flag where he crossed the line with half a straight between him and the rest of the field. "The car seemed to be hooked into the track and with no cars in front I just drove as hard as I possibly could. I wasn't sure who was behind me in second or how far behind they were. With the shadows it looked as though they were right on my tail," said McLean.

McLean's next meeting is in Greymouth where the New Zealand Championship is being held on February 13-14.

"What an awesome night. My first feature race win and King Country TQ champ," he said.

McLean is into his second speedway season in the Three Quarter Midgets after an impressive rookie season last year when he won the Western Springs Rookie of the Year title and TQ Midget B Grade Championship.