Riley Makes Triumphant Return to NZ Touring Car Championship
by Tony Bunyan 

Race One
A dry track, with the occasional period of light drizzle kept the teams guessing about the weather conditions for Race One of the three race meeting. In the end everyone opted for slicks, the track remaining dry despite the misty showers.

Brett Riley in the Castrol BNT BMW 320i had a faultless start to head the feild down the main straight for the first time, but Nissan specialist Angus Fogg in the Team Kiwi Placemakers Nissan Primera made a lightening break off the second row of the grid to flash past Riley and take the lead.

The race was a tangle of black and white as the International Motorsport BMWs fought first the Team Kiwi Nissan Primeras and then each other to take glory in the first race. In the first half of the race Fogg and Riley changed places several times, with Riley taking back the lead at the hairpin only to lose it to Fogg on the Hulme straight. The Nissan Primera had tremendous straight line speed, but lost ground under braking. Kevin Bell fought a fantastic rear guard action with McKay (who came off second best and headed into the grass) Richards and then Fogg, before turning his attentions on Manfeild master Riley for the lead.

Brett Riley and crew chief Mark Burns are Looking to Turn the Four on the Side of his BMW 320i into a One

Despite clutch and engine problems current NZTC Champion Jason Richards took Bell at the hairpin on lap 4 and harried Riley at the hairpin on lap 5. There wasn't enough room and both cars sustained driver side panel damage as a result. The charge couldn't last and Richards fell back into the clutches of Jody Vincent's Nissan Sentra.

Angus Fogg in Team Kiwi's other car lost engine power midway through the race due to a faulty air intake and was eventually passed by Barrie Thomlinson in the Lexus IS 200. On the final lap Richards was overtaken by Aaron Harris in the BMW 320 Coupe, NZTC Rookie Mathew Farmer in the ex-Angus Fogg Nissan Bluebird and a recovering Rhys McKay in a Toyota Corona.

Barrie Thomlison Only Needs a Little Luck to Give Short Motorsport and the Lexus 200IS its First Win

Riley retained his composure and the lead, along with Kevin Bell managing to make a break on the pack. Barrie Thomlinson drove a well paced race, working his way steadily up the field to eventually overtake Fogg for third place.

Brett Riley must be delighted with his performance after a three yea absense from the sport. He maintains his maximum points advantage, with team mate Kevin Bell adding valuble points to the Team Championship.

Sundays reverse grid position should see Barrie Thomlinson with the advantage in what is forecast to be a fine dry day. The BMWs have it all ahead of them starting from ninth and tenth on the grid.

Race Two
Sunday dawned hot and cloudless and by noon the temperature had risen into the mid 20ūC. To add interest and provide moreentertainment for race fans, the second race of the weekend reversed the order of the top ten qualifying cars. With only 8 laps to move through the feild, the faster cars had their work cut out.

Jody Vincent, who hadn't qualified as well as he had hoped was compensated with pole position. Unfortunately for Aaron Harris and Tony Oliver their races were over before they started with engine problems.

Kevin Bell and Jason Richards made superb starts only being beaten through the first sweeper by Vincent. It all came unstuck as they exited the corner and made contact. Bell spun out of contention and the engine worries that had affected Richards performance all weekend continued, slowing his recovery. By the third lap Thomlinson had moved from third to second.

Current New Zealand Touring Car Champion Jason Richards was Kept Busy Between Races Giving Autographs to Team Kiwi Fans

In only his second race in the New Zealand Touring Car Class Matthew Farmer had managed to keep out of trouble and take a handy fourth place. Time was running out for him as Fogg, Richards and Riley bore down on him.

Riley was caught on the outsideof Richards as they turned onto the main straight, Fogg taking advantage of the situation to take third. Thomlinson made his move on Jody Vincent to take the lead. At the hairpin Fogg and Vincent had a big off, both cars fortunate to have some runoff and rejoin the track at the back of the field. As the dust settled it was Rhys McKay in the very quick Toyota Corona who made the most progress eventually taking Richards to move into second position behindThomlinson.

With most of the early dramas behind them, Riley made his move, firstly taking Richards and then dialing in on McKay. On lap seven Riley had caught McKay and managed to take McKay on the inside at the Coca-Cola Sweeper, the cars making contact but not unsettling them.

The race looked like Thomlinson's, having extended his lead on the field. But hard luck played a part with the Lexus's losing fifth and sometimes third gear making it difficult for Thomlinson to maintain his pace. Riley caught and pasted him in the same place he took McKay to maintain his perfect points record.

Race 3
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