Sunday night at the ENZED Superstock Champs began at the earlier time of 4:30pm to try and beat the incoming weather, and racing got all the way to the final before the rain set in. This left the Palmerston North Panthers and Canterbury Glen Eagles in the unenviable position of having to return on Monday to complete their race.
Tier 2 Semi-Finals
Great Britain Lions v Manawatu Mustangs
First up the British Lions proved to 16,000 spectators and four Manawatu Mustangs that they meant business with a destructive team effort that left the locals in shock. 515gb Frankie Wainman Jr drove through everything he could while 410gb Jelle Tesselaar continued his great form to record another victory, with 34p Rebecca Barr the only Mustang to get onto the pointscore.
Result: Jelle Tesselaar 410gb, Rebecca Barr 34p, Frankie Wainman Jnr 515gb, Niels Tesselaar 418gb, Frankie Wainman Jnr Jnr 555gb
Lions 155, Mustangs 40
Auckland Allstars v Wanganui Warriors
Things started well for Wanganui with a 1-2 at the end of the first lap, but as this race progressed the Allstars got better and better. The crucial move came on lap five when 96a Jamie Fergusson tagged leader 26v Kaelin Mooney just enough for 166a Hayden Hart to assume command, with the Allstars able to thrive even though 66a Randal Tarrant was eliminated by a deft touch from 38v Zane Dykstra later in the race.
Result: Hayden Hart 166a, Kaelin Mooney 26v, Gary Lonergan 95a, Max Holloway 81v, Zane Dykstra 38v
Allstars 125, Warriors 70
Tier 1 Semi-Finals
Gisborne Giants v Palmerston North Panthers
The recent history of intense finals night battles between these two sides continued, with a couple of crucial moments proving to be pivotal. An early melee enabled the Panthers to establish a 1-2 that provided a little comfort, although 88p Jack Miers was later disqualified for his part in the action. 10g Peter Rees was closing in on both these leaders at high speed a couple of laps later, but the gap he aimed for wasn’t quite there and he clipped stationery teammate 5g Josh Prentice on the grandstand straight, pirouetting out of the race. And while 9g Jamie Hamilton was able to remove leader 722p David Lowe, 52p Scott Joblin was able to run to the flag to send the Panthers into their first final since 2018.
Result: Scott Joblin 52p, Ethan Rees 127g, Daniel Burmeister 172p
Panthers 125, Giants 40
Kihikihi Kings v Canterbury Glen Eagles
A 17-year wait for the Kings to start their first semi-final saw 71k Shane Mellsop take the early lead, but by lap two 808c Scott Tennant was in front for the Glen Eagles. Some expert blocking from 75k Gavin Taniwha slowed the leader, but 991c Harley Robb hit the front and when 58k Stefan Roigard tipped himself over the Kings’ quest was getting progressively more difficult. 971c Jayden Ward’s solid elimination of 1nz Asher Rees was another exclamation point and as some light drizzle fell on the chequered flag there were three Glen Eagles circulating for a large points haul.
Result: Harley Robb 991c, Jayden Ward 971c, Darrell Wallace 557c
Glen Eagles 165, Kings 0
Finals
3rd vs 4th
The Giants and Lions returned to the track to determine the final spot on the podium, and 9g Jamie Hamilton’s lap one turn one walling of 410gb Jelle Tesselaar proved to be the difference. By the time the two Wainman’s combined to roll Josh Prentice in the 10g car, 144g Tim Ross and 127g Ethan Rees were well on the way to victory, and so it proved with the Giants ending on a high and the Lions already looking forward to next year. The Brits have uncovered another batch of stars, and look to have the ability to challenge for victory in 2024.
Result: Tim Ross 144g, Ethan Rees 127g, Niels Tesselaar 418gb, Charlie Sworder 5gb
Giants 140, Lions 45
5th vs 6th
Somehow the Kings turned themselves around in record time to line up for the race for fifth overall, but a wet track made this a difficult challenge for the likes of 75k Gavin Taniwha to showcase his blocking skills. Instead he led early until 66a Randal Tarrant intervened, with 72a Cody McKee and 95a Gary Lonergan moving to the front. The only racing line was right out by the fence, and McKee was the most comfortable on the track to lead the Allstars home to a well-earned fifth overall.
Result: Cody McKee 72a, Gary Lonergan 95a, Matt Nielsen 147k, Shane Mellsop 71k, Randal Tarrant 66a
Allstars 150, Kings 45
1st vs 2nd
It was a magnificent effort by both teams to have five mobile cars for the final, but by now the drizzle was proving to be a more persistent foe. The teams did a couple of hotlaps but both sides were of the view that the track was too wet to allow for a fair and worthy final, so they returned to the infield. The track was worked on by every suitable vehicle in the pits, but eventually the precipitation grew worse and the meeting had to be called at that point.
The final race will be held at 2pm on Monday 6th February - entry is FREE, gates open at 12pm.
Results can be viewed online at https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/2101855
