Motorsport: Kiwis claim good results

Earl Bamber came in first and second at the Carrera Cup Germany.

Dixon cuts it fine in victory at Mid-Ohio.

Last weekend was a good one for top Kiwi drivers competing in Australia, Europe and America. And some good news off the track over the weekend as well, with the New Zealand V8 Supercars team, Super Black Racing, announcing Ant Pedersen and Andre Heimgartner as the pairing for its opening gambit at Bathurst in October.

Scott Dixon back in the IndyCar mix

It's taken most of the season, but Scott Dixon finally got a win in 2014, but boy did his team cut it close. Within 500m of crossing the line to take the win at Mid-Ohio, the Kiwi's car coasted to a halt, having run out of fuel. It was a masterful drive by Dixon and his team who started at the back of the field after he failed to set a time in qualifying. An early accident helped Dixon move up a few spots in the opening laps but the rest of his march through the field was up to speed on a track he's now won five races at, and a great strategy by his team.

Dixon is the 10th different winner this year and has propelled himself back into championship contention just over 100 points off the championship lead.

"Man it feels good to be back in the winners circle," said Dixon straight after the race. "Sure, we got a little lucky with the caution, but the car was great and the team made great calls throughout the race.

"The fuel number was extremely close but we still had the speed to stay in front."

Porsche pilot Earl Bamber on the podium again

The world's most hotly contested one-make series, the Porsche Carrera Cup, has a new star in Earl Bamber. The Kiwi is contesting the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Carrera Cup Germany and the Porsche Supercup, and is inside the top two in all three. Over the weekend Bamber was at the Red Bull Ring Spielberg, Austria for the fifth round of the Carrera Cup Germany series.

Setting a blistering pace in qualifying to start fifth in race one and second in race two, Bamber made the most of his front-of-the-pack starts to cross the line second in race one and stand on top of the podium for the second time in race two. "What a sensational race. Possibly one of the best I've ever contested," said Bamber.

Bamber now sits on top of the championship table 17 points ahead of Christian Engelhart.

Paddon's progress in the WRC

Hayden Paddon struggled with power steering problems on the final day.

Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard completed Rally Finland despite having to endure the last day with no power steering. The Kiwi duo started the rally, their third race in the championship with Hyundai Motorsport, in 10th place after negotiating appalling weather. The next day they set the fourth fastest times in a couple of stages to climb up to sixth on the leaderboard and be the leading i20 WRC car.

The power steering issues, however, made the final day tough and the pair had to settle for eighth.

"All in all we are very happy with the weekend and I have felt I have made a big step forward with my driving," said Paddon.

"More pleasing, we know there is much more to come and now that we are heading down a new track of both driving and car setup, I feel confident we can improve even further for our next event, Rally Australia."