Nelson's John McIntyre celebrated his second consecutive New Zealand V8s title at Teretonga, near Invercargill, yesterday.
However, it wasn't an easy run to the end for the Ford driver. Having run the same engine all season, McIntyre's car had a broken timing chain during Saturday's first race andhe wasn't able to finish for the first time in this six-round, 18-race series.
His nearest rival Angus Fogg (Ford) closed the gap from 115 points to 55.
McIntyre repaired his car overnight and started the second race nearly at the back of the field while Fogg started in position two beside pole sitter Kayne Scott (Ford).
Fogg followed Scott home, while McIntyre carefully negotiated his way into 14th place. The points' margin was down to 12 points with the controversial reverse grid race to come.
That moved McIntyre a little ahead of mid-field, while Fogg and Scott were on the back row with 25 cars in front of them.
McIntyre swiftly worked his way into the lead.
Taking second with 977 points to McIntyre's 1004, was Fogg.
Former V8 champion and multiple TraNZam champion Scott took third place with 932 points. He also won the Teretonga round, taking home the Hydraulink 200 Cup.
Paul Radisich finished fifth overall in his first season in the New Zealand V8s.
