Motor Sport: McIntyre wins feature race thriller

John McIntyre. Geoff Ridder.

Three-time New Zealand V8 champion John McIntyre won a thrilling feature race at round two of the V8 SuperTourer series at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch today.

McIntyre's win prevented a Fabian Coulthard clean sweep of the weekend but it wasn't enough to prevent Coulthard taking the round win, with pole position, two wins, a second and three fastest laps marking an incredible debut in New Zealand's newest racing series.

A large crowd - one of the biggest seen at the venue in years according to circuit officials - saw an enthralling battle after an action-packed start when Jonny Reid and Craig Baird both out-braked themselves into turn one after passing Coulthard.

That allowed a fast-starting McIntyre to steal a lead he was never to lose.

The first race on Saturday had seen McIntyre defend his second place behind Coulthard relentlessly in his Falcon. But, with roles reversed, McIntyre managed to hold off Coulthard despite several well-executed attacks.

McIntyre, one of the first drivers to get behind the new V8 SuperTourer class, was delighted to bag his first win in the series.

"There were periods of the race where I could brake when I wanted, and this was really useful into turn one which I knew was one of Fabian's strongest corners," he said. "Running a race like that is all about working out where he was strong and where he wasn't.

"The pressure was really intense and that's the best win I have ever had at Ruapuna."

The series now moves on to round three at Manfeild Motorsport Park on the last weekend in April, with a fascinating championship battle developing and an injured Greg Murphy back in the saddle in Car 51 - filled capably by Coulthard this weekend.