Motorsport: Youngster races to Grand Prix victory

Auckland teenager Jonny Reid powered into national motor-racing prominence with victory in the New Zealand Grand Prix at Teretonga Park, Invercargill, yesterday.

Starting off pole, the 19-year-old drove most of the 40 laps with a comfortable lead in his Van Diemen Stealth.

Reid now hopes to follow in the footsteps of other New Zealand drivers who have made their mark in the Grand Prix, including the late Ashley Stichbury, Craig Baird, Greg Murphy and Scott Dixon.

The race was split into two 20-lap sections and Reid led a five-strong group into the halfway refuelling mark. Palmerston North's Chris Pither, Aucklander Daniel Gaunt, Australian Bryce Washington and veteran Aucklander Kenny Smith were among the challengers.

But there was no race after the resumption, even with an early lap run under the control of the safety car after a crash on Castrol corner.

Reid said he was never confident after the break, but was determined to hold his advantage. "I knew the guys behind me were quick, but I must have been a bit quicker - I was just head down all the way."

Pither finished second with Gaunt third to share in the podium champagne battle.

Some angry looks were exchanged after the race, with Smith disappointed by the standard of racing. The motorsport legend spent the first half with his sights locked on the exhaust pipe of Washington but couldn't fight his way past.

Earlier Christchurch TraNZam stalwart Grant Silvester shrugged off a 15kg weight penalty to take away a first and a second placing in the TraNZam Challenge races.

- NZPA