MEDIA RELEASE
27 APRIL 2007

Huge Programme To End Season At Teretonga Park

A full two day programme will bring the 2006/2007 season to a close at Teretonga Park this weekend. The meeting, presented by Fulton Hogan, features the deciding rounds of several different championships.

The programme features the annual 3 Hour Endurance Race on Saturday afternoon followed by a day of racing on Sunday with Kumho Sport Saloons, Pre 65 Saloons, Super Six Saloons and the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons plus single seaters.

The long distance race is the third and final round of the South Island Endurance Series and has attracted some fantastic entries. Auckland brothers Matt and Dwayne Carter lead the way in their Falcon V8 Supercar, along with last year's winner's Angus McFarlane/Michael Bushell in a Porsche GT3. The appearance of a genuine V8 Supercar is a rare occurence at Teretonga and is bound to create a lot of interest. Other leading contenders include Peter Swaney (Timaru) and Craig McDermid (Blenheim) in their twin turbo Corolla, brothers Alan and Dale Chapman of Christchurch in a BMW 318i, Alexandra drivers Bruce Davidson and David Garden in their immaculate Chev Corvette and Chris Henderson of Dunedin and Brent Russell of Christchurch in a Nissan powered BMW. Scott O'Donnell of Invercargill and Lindsay O'Donnell of Christchurch team up in Scott's familiar Porsche GT3 while Southland combination Bradley and Jeremy Dawson come to Teretonga 6th overall in the Endurance Series, a fantastic performance in their Toyota Trueno in which they also lead their class.

Other Southlanders in the Enduro are Darcy Hewitt, Dave McKenzie, Amanda and Inky Tulloch, Dave McLean and Grant Molloy.

The final round of the Kumho Sport Saloons Series will feature the ultimate showdown as Mike Small (Timaru) and Kerry Bartlett (Ashburton) arrive at Teretonga after five previous rounds locked together on 388 points. However they will not have it all their own way with Neville Stowell and John Hepburn, among others, bound to offer them some stiff competition.

In the Super Six Saloons Blair Sutherland of Dunedin looks set to add the South Island Series to his New Zealand title in his Holden Commodore. However behind him there is a frantic battle between Cantabrians Benny Lee (Falcon) and Nathan Blomquist (Commodore) plus Dunedin driver Peter Hughes also in a Commodore. Christchurch drivers Wayne Christie in a Falcon and young up and coming female competitor Clara Bond (Commodore) are also very much in contention. Gore drivers John Muir and Russell Keeler will also be among the field.

Invercargill driver Wayne Tuffley will be one of the favourites in the Pre 65 Saloon Car Races in his Ford Mustang but will have to contend with the brutal power of Jason Galbraith's 7 litre Plymouth, Cliff Brunning's 6.8 litre Chev, Tony Jeffs 6.5 litre Ford Galaxie and the Mustang of Steve Ross.

The Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Series is missing many familiar names this weekend but should provide some close competition with
Andrew Cundall expected to be a frontrunner in his Toyota Levin.

Meanwhile the single seater fields are the healthiest for some time with twelve entries. Father and son Barry and Damon Leitch are among the starters while Noel Atley, Steve Heffernan and Munro Tall should also be prominent.

Qualifying for all classes except the Clubmans and Pre 65 competitors takes place from 10.00am on Saturday morning. After a lunchbreak the Endurance Race commences at 1.00pm.

Sunday's programme also begins at 10.00am with qualifying for the Clubmans and Pre 65 classes. Shortly after, a programme of 16 races will kick off to bring the 2006/2007 season to it's conclusion. With so many championships to be decided the racing is sure to be intense.

Entry to the event is $10 for adults each day and children under 14 are free.

ends

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