Motorsport: Clement Novalak continues Toyota Racing Series surge

Clement Novalak in Toyota Racing Series action at Hampton Downs. Photo / Matthew Hansen

Former world karting champion Clement Novalak took victory in the second Toyota Racing Series race of the weekend at Hampton Downs to continue his charge up the championship standings.

American Juan Manuel Correa finished second with title contender Robert Shwartzman third and series leader Marcus Armstrong fourth. Correa was handed a post-race penalty for weaving behind the safety car, which promoted Armstrong onto the podium for the eighth successive time this year.

Novalak has demonstrated good pace throughout the championship but found himself chasing the top three of Armstrong, Shwartzman and Richard Verschoor after a couple of slow starts at Ruapuna. But he appears to have sorted those starts.

"It isn't the big race three win like last week but it is good," he said.

The French-born, Swiss raised Novalak is hoping to get a big haul of points in the New Zealand Motor Cup race later on Sunday.

"It is going to be hard from seventh on the grid but if we can have a good start a good result is possible," Novalak explained.

Young Aucklander Reid Harker made a terrible start from pole as he got swamped off the line. The 21-year-old had some luck in drawing the right ball to get himself onto the front row but handed the advantage straight back. It was a disappointment after an impressive qualifying performance.

The race was red flagged after a bad accident that saw American Cameron Das and Frecnhman Charles Milesi collide at the start of the second lap. Milesi's car slammed against the wall and ended up in the sand trap with big damage while Das' car lost a wheel.

Upon the re-start Armstrong and Shwartzman made contact but it didn't appear to damage either car.

Saturday winner Verschoor ended up fifth while New Zealander Brendon Leitch was seventh.

Harker, Taylor Cockerton and Ryan Yardley enjoyed a feisty all-Kiwi battle in the latter stages of the race. Cockerton headed off Harker for eighth with Yardley in 10th.

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