Season Opens At Teretonga

Top class machinery with some of New Zealand's best drivers aboard is the big attraction at the opening of the 2014/2015 motor racing season at Invercargill's Teretonga Park this weekend.

As is now traditional the opening meeting, presented by Downer, will feature the opening round of the ASKO Appliances 1 hour and 3 Hour South Island Endurance races on Saturday 21 September. Once again a top class line up of machinery will line the grid for the first round of both series.

The Three Hour race should see the debut of Inky Tulloch's exciting, new German-built 650hp, 7.9 litre Camaro V8, one of only four in the world. Tulloch will have former series champion Grant Aitken as his co-driver. However the competition is intense. There are a large number of Porsche GT3's in the race with quality combinations at the wheel such as three-time series champion Paul Kelly and Porsche maestro Craig Baird, Andrew Bagnall/Ant Pedersen, Allan Dippie/Scott O'Donnell (997 GT3 Cup S), George McFarlane/Angus McFarlane (997 GT3 Cup R) and past series champion Michael Bushell/Grant Silvester in a Porsche 996 GT2 twin turbo. In a Ferrari F430 are Jono Lester/Robin Gray while Matt/Dwayne Carter of Auckland will pose a real threat in their V8 Supercar while the V8 SuperTourer prototype of John De Veth and John Hepburn is another potent machine. The battles will continue right throughout the field with class honours up for grabs and very competitive entries.

In the One Hour race Hugh Gardiner of Auckland will be one of the favourites in his Porsche GT3 997 while several similar Porsches in the hands of drivers such as Cantabrians Hayden Knighton/Garry Cliff, and Danny Whiting will be strong contenders. Bradley Dawson, Kieran Roberts and Malcolm Jones are locals who should all be competitive in their classes.

On Sunday the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons feature a good line up with Robert Ralston and Dion Dawson of Invercargill in Nissan Silvia's, Brian Scott of Dunedin in a Chev Corvette, Liam MacDonald in his Ford Falcon NZV8 Touring Car and Brent Cross of Winton in an EVO 3 expected to be to the fore.

The Pro 7 Saloons make their way south for this meeting with 2013/2014 NZ Champion George Gilbert leading the way and Jason Corboy of Christchurch and Mosgiel driver Ken Thompson other prominent competitors in this class.

A small field of Sports & Racing Cars gets their season underway with the talented Brendon Leitch of Invercargill competing in a Ralt RT4.
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The action starts at 9.30am on both days. Discounted weekend passes are available at the gate. Saturday admission is $15 andSunday $10 while children 14 and under are free.

Keep up to date with what is happening at Teretonga Park this summer at www.teretonga.org.nz

Photograph - the Scott O'Donnell/Allan Dippie Porsche 997 Cup S during a pitstop in last year's ASKO Appliances 3 Hour Race - please credit Euan Cameron

CALENDAR 2014/2015 SEASON - TERETONGA PARK

20/21 September 2014: Motor Racing presented by Downer - ASKO Appliances 3 Hour Endurance Race, ASKO Appliances 1 Hour Endurance Race, Pro 7 Saloons, Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans, Sports & Racing Cars

2 November 2014: Motor Racing presented by Downer - Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans, Sports & Racing Cars - Inter-Club Challenge

6/7 December 2014: Motor Racing presented by Downer - OSCA & Sport Saloons, Mini 7 South, Pro 7 Saloons, South Island Formula Ford, Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans, Sports & Racing Cars

23-25 January 2015: MSNZ Summer Series - NZV8 Touring Cars, Toyota Racing Series, TR86 Toyota Series, Formula Ford, NZ 6, Allcomers Saloons

20-22 February 2015: Evolution Motorsport Classic SpeedFest featuring top class classic motor racing, Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons, Sports & Racing Cars, Pre 65 Saloons

20-22 March 2015: Motor Racing presented by Downer - NZ Super Trucks, NZ 6, Pre 65 Saloons, Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans, Sports & Racing Cars, A1 Autos One Hour Race

ENDS

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