New Zealand Racing Drivers Club Series

Round 1 - Pukekohe, Auckland

Sunday 31st May 1998

Summary

Seventeen cars competed in the first meeting of the New Zealand Racing Drivers Club Series held at the Pukekohe Raceway on Sunday 31st May 1998.

Ed Lamont came out of a short lived retirement on Sunday to stretch the legs of his Dunlop Tyres Toyota Corona and take a maximum points lead and cement a healthy lead over his nearest rival BNT International Motorsport pilot Jason Richards. Richards made brilliant starts in both races, propelling the rear drive BMW off the line and into the lead ahead of pole sitter Lamont in both races. However, the Pukekohe track, perfectly suited to the front wheel drive Corona's horsepower, enabled Lamont to power past the BMW and take two emphatic wins. Despite Richards pressure, the Corona driver retained his composure, maintaining a blistering pace and not making a mistake that Richards could capitalise on. Ross Heffernan in the Wilkinson Insurance Toyota Corona was probably the most unlucky driver over the weekend. Favoured to produce a good performance after his barnstorming drives at the end of last season (he was the only driver to take a win from the all conquering BMW team) he was involved in a tangle during the first qualifying session that nearly ending his campaign before it had begun. His appearance back on the track for the afternoon's races was a credit to his race engineers. Less fortunate were Les Brown and Shane Lawrey who weren't able to sort their cars out in time to race. Geoff Short and Barry Thomlinson played Ford Telstar "swapsy", Geoff piloting Barrie's car from last season and Barrie campaigning Geoff's black ex-Collingwood Mowers car. Grant Aitken in the Suzuki Baleno and Wayne Johnson in his Honda Integra had spectacular mid field battles, Johnson eventually prevailing to come home ahead of the Suzuki. Peter van Brugel made a surprise appearance in the Beaurepaires Nissan Sentra SSS. He had initially made a decision not to race until his new car, a Nissan Primera, was ready to compete. However having celebrated his engagement to long time partner Natalie the night before, he could think of no better way to round out the celebrations than drive on Sunday!

David (Bart) Simpson returned after an absence from the summer season to perform well in both qualifying sessions. Unfortunately, a blown engine would see him retire early in the first race and end his weekend. Bill Tunzelmann qualified well in the first session, but mechanical problems ruined his progress through the field. Paul Pavletich was the leading 1600 cc contender in his Nissan Sentra, qualifying at the top of his class and finishing ahead of his rivals in both races.

Qualifying

First Qualifying - Session started at 10:59 am (Duration: 15 minutes)

The weather the first qualifying session of the 1998 NZRDC Series was warm, but windy with shorts spells of very light rain. The track remained essentially dry on the racing line, with damp patches around the track. The first major drama of the season occurred within minutes of the opening laps of the first practice session as front runner Ross Heffernan was involved in a serious pile up on the main straight with Shayne Lawrey and Les Brown. It was unclear whether any of these cars would make it back onto the track for the rest of qualifying or the afternoons racing. Ed Lamont in the Dunlop Tyres Toyota Corona and Jason Richards in the BNT International Motorsport came out to place them over 1.5 seconds ahead of the next group consisting of Barrie Thomlinson, Robbie Ker and Bart Simpson. Wayne Johnson and Grant Aitken kept the remaining 2.0 ltr cars honest, these 1800 cc drivers running with the hounds in the low seventies. Paul Pavletich was the best of the 1600 cc runners putting a very quick time for the conditions and setting the pace for his class.

Second Qualifying - Session started at 1.30 pm (Duration: 15 minutes)

The track had dried during the morning's qualifying session and a cool wind fanned low track temperatures. Lamont in the Toyota and Richards in the BMW once again put in the best times, Richards reduced the gap by half but Lamont still pipped Richards to grab pole by two tenths of a second. The cooler operating temperatures were reflected in performances, with times generally down and Barrie Thomlinson once again showing his class to place him on the second row of the grid. Geoff Short in the Husquvana Ford Telstar and Grant Aitken in the Suzuki Racing Baleno made huge improvements, slicing three seconds off their earlier times to place them fourth and sixth on the grid respectively. Ross Heffernan's crew could not rebuild his car in time for the second qualifying session. This would see him relegated to the back of the grid for the first race, but slotted behind the 1800 cc cars for the second race. Neither did Robbie Ker participate in the second qualifying session. Mechanical problems curtailed Bill Tunzelmann's session after only one lap.

Full Race Reports

Race One

A fired Ed Lamont in the wickedly fast Dunlop Tyres Toyota Corona and Jason Richards in the beautifully prepared BNT International Motorsport BMW were clearly the cars to beat as the field lined up for the first race of the NZRDC Series. Racing regulations state that as the pole sitter lines up on the grid, the starter brings out the 30 second board to begin the countdown for the race. However, racing got off to a false start when cars forming at the back of the grid were still reversing into their correct positions as the five second board went up. This forced the race to be delayed as the cars were sent around for a second warm up lap.

As he had during the 1997/98 Street Skill Series, Jason Richards once more proved his command of the standing start as he launched the BNT International Motorsport BMW off the line expertly to lead the front wheel drive Dunlop Tyres Toyota Corona of Ed Lamont into the first corner. Barrie Thomlinson made an excellent start in his new charge, the black Ford Telstar owned by the Short Racing Team, to take third. Robbie Ker in the Placemakers Toyota Corona and Bart Simpson in the Nissan Bluebird diced for fourth, Ker having to take the outside line through the first turn as Simpson's Nissan maintained the inside line. Johnson in the Honda Integra was also held on the outside, with Geoff Short in the ex-Nigel Arkell Ford Telstar tucked on the inside. Ross Heffernan was the big mover off the line, leaping five places by the sweeper.

Like Ross Heffernan, Peter van Brugel in the  Beaurepaires Nissan Sentra SSS was anxious to make up for lost time, having started from the back of the grind. By the Esses these two had carved their way through the 1600 cc class and were looking to catch their 2.0 litre rivals.

The horsepower of Lamont's Corona became evident from the first lap as he reeled Richards in down Pukekohe's long dog leg back straight. Richards braked late to fend Lamont off as they entered the hairpin, taking the better line to head the Corona off. Bart Simpson was also hard on the exhaust pipe of Barrie Thomlinson as the main bunch entered the hairpin, Geoff Short taking a cheeky look up the inside of Robbie Ker who had lost fifth gear in qualifying. The manoeuvre didn't stick. However Heffernan's move on Aitken did and the Toyota driver promoted himself up to eighth.

By the end of the first lap Richards had maintained his gap over Lamont, the BMW looking very fast and balanced through the Esses. Compared with Lamont, Richards took a much straighter line through this section, sending up a cloud of dusk as the right hand side of his car bounced over the curb. Charging down the back straight for the second time, Heffernan and van Brugel made further gains through the field. This made the hairpin very congested with Short having passed Ker in the braking area, but finding the Toyota Corona driver was making a counter assault on the outside. By the exit to the hairpin Heffernan had caught the bunch and Short's Ford Telstar was now a Corona sandwich between Heffernan and Ker! Short was eventually squeezed out the back to leave Kerr and Heffernan fighting for fifth.

Peter van Brugel's run came to an end on the third lap, the normally reliable Nissan having to retire after only two laps.

At the Esses for the third time and Lamont's pressure on Richards nearly backfired, the Dunlop Tyres Toyota getting wildly out of shape at the entrance to the complex. This gave the BNT BMW the break it had been hoping for. Further back, Bart Simpson's Nissan Bluebird had over-revved and the engine had expired, moving Heffernan up into fourth. Of the under 2.0 ltr cars, Wayne Johnson had done a great job to keep in touch with the leading bunch.

As the cars began their sixth lap Lamont moved on Richards, first to the right and then to the left as the cars passed the main grandstand. The BMW was quicker through the Esses, but there was no denying the Toyota Corona at speed on the back straight as Lamont made the pass look easy. Lap six would also see Ross Heffernan's gutsy drive come to an end as the car gave up on it's driver's pace.

By lap eight Lamont had caught the tail enders and Richards slipped off his tail pipe. Bill Tunzelmann's Lockwood Peugeot 405 had a wild ride through the Esses and onto the grass, ending his race on lap nine to narrowly register a DNF.

With Richards behind him, and the ability to stretch out a handy lead on the back straight Lamont never looked challenged to the finish. Barrie Thomlinson drove a controlled, well paced race to come home third. Wayne Johnson came home ahead of the other 1800 cc car of Grant Aitken. Paul Pavletich was the best of the 1600cc class, clearly ahead of the rest. Bill Conney and Ted Jarvis had an entertaining battle at the back of the field, Cooney managing to cross 0.3 seconds ahead of Jarvis in ninth place.

Results - Race 1 (10 Laps)

No.	Driver	Car	Best Lap Time	Gap to Finish	Laps Driven
8	Ed LAMONT	Toyota Corona	1:06.95	0:00.00	10
2	Jason RICHARDS	BMW 320i	1:07.12	0:01.10	10
12	Barrie THOMLINSON	Ford Telstar	1:08.66	0:15.55	10
18	Robbie KERR	Toyota Corona	1:08.33	0:19.17	10
5	Geoff SHORT	Ford Telstar	1.08.44	0:20.60	10
28	Wayne JOHNSON	Honda Integra	1:09.92	0:30.10	10
10	Grant AITKEN	Suzuki Baleno	1:10.42	0:42.79	10
23	Paul PAVLETICH	Nissan Sentra	1:12.66	1:02.35	10
81	Bill COONEY	Toyota Sprinter	1:14.81	+ 1 lap	9
80	Ted JARVIS	Toyota Corolla	1:14.76	+ 1 lap	9
19	Grady HOMEWOOD	Nissan Sentra	1:17.33	+ 1 lap	9
11	Bill TUNZELMANN	Peugeot 405	1:09.59	+ 2 laps (DNF)	8
6	Ross HEFFERNAN	Toyota Corona	1:07.99	+ 5 laps (DNF)	5
33	David SIMPSON	Nissan Bluebird	1:09.97	+ 7 laps (DNF)	3
3	Peter VAN BRUGEL	Nissan Sentra	1:09.26	+ 8 laps (DNF)	2

Fastest Lap: Ed LAMONT 1:06.95 sec (lap 5)

Total Elapsed Time: 11:20.91 min.

Circuit Length: 2.8 km

Race Two

Despite the high attrition rate of the first race only the Nissan Bluebird of David Simpson didn't make it back onto the track for the second race.

Once again Jason Richards was able to effectively get the horsepower to the tarmac to out drag Ed Lamont to the first corner. Lamont didn't appear to get off the line as well as he had in the first race and this may have delayed Barrie Thomlinson's start. Full marks to Geoff Short who boxed Thomlinson on the inside to made one of his best starts in 1998, following Richards through and dropping into a handy third place behind Lamont. By the sweeper, Heffernan was driving around Aitken into sixth spot and snapping on the heals of Wayne Johnson.

Richards made it cleanly onto the back straight to maintain his lead over Lamont, while Heffernan had moved on Johnson to take fifth place. Geoff Short come under increasing pressure from Barrie Thomlinson on the back straight, the two Ford Telstars contesting third place. Thomlinson won out by two car lengths under braking before the hairpin. Ker was another mover at the hairpin, taking a wide line around Aitken to move into seventh place. As the cars came over the top of Mobil Mountain Richards ran wide onto the grass, indicating his determination to place a break on the super quick Toyota Corona.

By the end of the first lap the Wilkinson Insurance Toyota Corona had blitzed past Geoff Short's Husquvana Ford Telstar to move into fourth. Heffernan now turned his attention to Barrie Thomlinson's Telstar. The Fords were coming off second best as another Toyota Corona, this time driven by Robbie Ker swallowed Short's Telstar under braking for the hairpin. Peter van Brugel had also made substantial progress through the field, having started from the back of the grid he had overtaken Grant Aitken to place Johnson and Short under pressure.

As the cars roared past the main grandstand for the third time the leading drivers were evenly spaced. The hairpin was once again very busy as Wayne Johnson on the outside and Peter van Brugel on the inside tried overhauling Geoff Short. However it would take van Brugel another lap before he replaced Short into sixth place.

Grant Aitken in the Suzuki Racing Baleno must have felt a bit lonely by the end of the NZTC Series, but the appearance of Wayne Johnson's Honda Integra gave him plenty to focus on. The two 1800 cc cars provided the crowd with a great midfield spectacle.

By lap five Jason Richards appeared to have the race well in hand, with a two second gap over Lamont as they headed onto the back straight. Heffernan attempted to slip passed Thomlinson on the back straight, but the Ford Telstar driver made his car too wide and the two closed up as they headed into the hairpin. The following lap saw the manoeuvre stick and Heffernan move up into third place. On lap nine the tail enders had been caught and Robbie Ker could no longer hold back the relentless pressure of Peter van Brugel who was promoted to fifth. Lamont had kicked up a notch on the previous lap and began reeling Richards in as if he was on the end of a tractor beam! By the hairpin Lamont was crawling all over the back of Richards and applying tremendous pressure. As the pair came up over Mobil Mountain, Richards ran marginally wide, forcing him to button off momentarily and allow Lamont to press onto the inside line. This made it impossible for Richards to move to the inside and cover Lamont's racing line. Lamont used the raw horsepower of the Corona to good effect and hit the lead by the sweeper off the main straight. Richards counter attacked through the Esses, but Lamont was able to cement his lead on the back straight, crossing the line nine tenths of a second ahead of Richards and posting a maximum points score over the two races of 40 points.

Results - Race 2 (10 Laps)

No.	Driver	Car	Best Lap Time	Gap to Finish	Laps Driven
8	Ed LAMONT	Toyota Corona	1:06.57	0:00.00	10
2	Jason RICHARDS	BMW 320i	1:06.95	0:00.93	10
6	Ross HEFFERNAN	Toyota Corona	1:07.38	0:08.39	10
12	Barrie THOMLINSON	Ford Telstar	1:07.68	0:10.00	10
3	Peter VAN BRUGEL	Nissan Sentra	1:07.44	0:17.73	10
18	Robbie KERR	Toyota Corona	1:08.11	0:19.00	10
5	Geoff SHORT	Ford Telstar	1.08.54	0:23.39	10
28	Wayne JOHNSON	Honda Integra	1:09.43	0:31.57	10
10	Grant AITKEN	Suzuki Baleno	1:09.97	0:35.54	10
11	Bill TUNZELMANN	Peugeot 405	1:10.20	0:44.71	10
23	Paul PAVLETICH	Nissan Sentra	1:13.70	+ 1 lap	9
80	Ted JARVIS	Toyota Corolla	1:13.82	+ 1 lap	9
19	Grady HOMEWOOD	Nissan Sentra	1:17.56	+ 1 lap	9
81	Bill COONEY	Toyota Sprinter	1:14.71	+ 1 lap (DNF)	9

Fastest Lap: Ed LAMONT 1:06.57 sec (lap 8)

Total Elapsed Time: 11:18.71

Circuit Length: 2.8 km