The Australians and Ford have turned up in force in this year's NZ V8s. Luke Youlden, Cameron McLean and newcomer David Besnard, regular competitors in the Australian V8 Supercar championship showed in yesterday's opening race that they will be a real power.
Race honours went to Hawke's Baydriver John McIntyre in a Ford. This year, McIntyre is running his own team. He finished just ahead of Besnard, with fellow Australian Youlden third, both also in Fords.
McIntyre said: "For a first race, I was absolutely delighted. It's an ideal start to the season."
For Besnard, his second was a bit of a surprise. With two laps left, Auckland's Angus Fogg was second but spun at the hairpin and finished down the field.
The safety car was deployed three times during the 12 laps for various incidents, the worst of those affecting Andrew Anderson who hit the barrier coming on to the front straight before the first lap was completed.
With the race restarted, Fogg led the field for only half a lap before McIntyre ducked past him in a tight manoeuvre at the hairpin. One-and-a-half laps later, an incident at the esses saw Paul Pedersen's car thrown off into the gravel and Cameron McLean's car lose a bumper.
The safety car was called out again, with McIntyre taking the field around at a much reduced pace. Fogg went out of contention with his spin at the hairpin on lap 10, then another safety car intervention meant the race finished under the yellow flag.
New Zealand's premier single seater class - the Toyota racing series - opening race was dominated by the defending champ, Daniel Gaunt of Auckland. Not only did he set pole position, he also went on to win the heat comfortably and set a new lap record.
