Two Wellingtonians and a Porsche prove a winning combination

Two Wellingtonians and a Porsche prove to be a winning combination

Wellingtonians Jamie McNee and Elliott Andrew joined forces to claim the top spot at the Mahindra One Hour Race at Taupo on the weekend.

Both 21, they were driving a Porsche GT3 race car for the first time. After starting second they battled it out with eventual second place getters also in a Porsche GT3, finishing only 8 seconds apart after an hour of racing.

McNee qualified the car in second place and took the lead early, but eventual second place getter Sam Philmore soon reclaimed the lead. The lead changed again throughout the race.

“It was fantastic to take a win in my first drive in a Porsche,” McNee says.

“We had a good run in a Seat at Pukekohe last month, getting as high as second to Craig Baird at the half way point. This time we decided to step up to a Porsche to take a shot at the win.”

While the drivers were racing in a Motorsport Services Porsche 997 GT3, McNee says their tight budget meant they had to race on used tyres.

“We didn’t quite have the ultimate speed that we would have liked but on the day it was fast enough.”

Pukekohe was the first time McNee and Elliott raced together as a team with the pair more used to lining up as competitors. They have both competed in go-karting since they were eight-years-old racing at the Wellington Kart Club. Jamie claimed a national karting title when he was 10.

The pair now has their sights on the South Island Endurance Series with Motorsport Services, but need sponsorship to help them compete.

“We would be keen to hear from any business which is interested in finding out more about the events and what exposure we can give them.”

This season Jamie won the Toyota TR86 championship, and finished 3rd in the Toyota Racing Series in 2010.

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