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Hellebrekers
Takes First Win!
by Tony Bunyan
For
many teams, Round 5 of the NZTCC was a water shed, an
opportunity to excel or to redeem, a chance for Toyota
to nail home their advantage, a chance for Nissan and
BMW to close the gap and prevent a white wash. Using
the short track at the Manfield Autocourse the direction
of the racing was anti-clockwise, the reverse of Manfield's
"normal" direction, forcing teams to modify
their car setups and drivers to relearn the circuit.
Phil Hellebrekers finally made the breakthrough he had
been building towards all season. Although Barrie Thomlinson
wasn't enjoying his weekend, a comfortable setup seemed
elusive, he only needed to finish races and conserve
his car to ensure his championship lead stayed secure.
Angus Fogg proved the Nissan Primera is a weapon in
Race Two, but instigated one of the most dramatic racing
incidents in recent years, effectively handing the third
race to the Altezzas on a plate.
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Hellebrekers
Collected the Most Points of Any Driver at Manfield
and Ensured that Team Kiwi didnt have an opportunity
to spoil Toyota's Party
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Race
One
Saturday's race was held in bright sunny conditions.
Hellebrekers got off the line well to retain
his pole position, with the two Team Kiwi Nissan Primeras
hard on Thomlinson's heel. The pair eventually passed
the Championship points leader and the race broke into
two races.
Hellebrekers
was out in the lead with Fogg and McIntyre doggedly
battling each other for track position. It was an exciting
close duel, with Fogg managing to keep ahead of his
team mate - just!
Behind
them, Thomlinson's Altezza was under pressure from International
Motorsport's Kevin Bell in the E46 BMW 320i. With such
close racing something had to give and it was Thomlinson
who left the track and Bell who snatched the fourth
place.
It
was a great drive by Hellebrekers who had been a little
disappointed in himself for letting Thomlinson pass
him at Pukekohe the previous meeting when he had felt
he had the race under control. "I was just a bit
lazy on the brakes coming up to the hairpin. Both of
us got a bit out of shape, but he drifted in the right
direction and got through as we exited the corner".
This
time there was no mistake!
Race
Two
Sunday's first race was also held in bright sunshine,
the occasional cloud drifting across the track to give
some relief to the large crowd. The track was hot and
sticky as the cars assembled on the grid.
The
two Toyotas sat on the front row, with old rivals Angus
Fogg and Kevin Bell sitting behind them.
The
Toyotas got away to a good start, but the Nissans were
better, especially John McIntyre who made a blinder!
As the cars headed into the first corner the top six
cars formed a tight bunch, but all managing to get through
without incident. Down the back straight Fogg took the
fight to Thomlinson, powering past him and zeroing in
on Hellebrekers. Thomlinson came under continued pressure
from McIntyre in the second Team Kiwi car, running wide
at the exit of the last turn before the main straight
(Coca Cola), running onto the grass and losing two places.
Peter
Millener in the E36 BMW 320i had also made a great start
to slot in behind Hellebrekers and the two Nissans.
On
lap four the dueling between leader Hellebrekers and
Fogg had reached fever pitch, the pair maintaining a
healthy gap back to McIntyre. To the crowds delight
as the pair exited onto the main straight Fogg used
the Nissan Primera's straight line speed to out drag
Hellebrekers and gain the lead. Hellebrekers fort back
three corners later at the long left hand sweeper known
as Higgins. Leaving his braking late he had too much
momentum to avoid running wide at the exit and driving
over the grass.
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Kevin
Bell's E46 BMW Looked Fast and Smooth All Weekend.
The Car Has Huge Potential for Further Development
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As
the main bunch headed though the Castrol complex, Thomlinson
and Millener took to the grass, allowing Bell a clear
run into fourth place. With the intense battle up front
it was surprising McIntyre couldn't capitalise and close
in on the pair. "By about the fifth lap I decided
that there wasn't much advantage in pushing on, so I
decided I would conserve the tyres knowing that it would
be an advantage in the longer 12 lap reverse grid race".
Having
just recorded his fastest time on his previous lap,
Hellebrekers made another desperate dive up the outside
at Higgins, the Altezza twitching as he exited onto
the Denis Hulme straight.
Further
back in the field Harris, Oliver and Millener were caught
up in a battle for the minor places. In the end Fogg
sustained the pressure of Hellebrekers attack to take
another exciting win and narrowing the points gap between
the pair.
Race
3
The weather remained fine and hot for Sunday's second
race. The 12 lap reverse grid format put Aaron Harris
on pole, with Tony Oliver sharing the front row of the
grid. International Motorsports Peter Millener shared
the second row with Team Kiwis John McIntyre. Fogg sat
a row ahead of the Toyotas, with Kevin Bell sharing
the third row of the grid with him.
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The
Start of the Reverse Grid Race With Aaron Harris
on Pole in the Dynapack BMW 320 coupe and Tony
Oliver in the Toyota Corona Next to Him The Altezzas
look a Long Way Back !!
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From
the start spectators could have been forgiven for thinking
the race was two rather than twelve laps, such was the
desperation shown by the faster cars to pass the lead
cars, heading four abreast into the first corner. The
Team Kiwi cars had made another great start and only
the physical impossibility of all the cars getting round
the corner at once thwarted their efforts to get past
the front row cars.
The
cars jostled down the back straight, Fogg leaving his
run far too late, diving on the brakes at Higgins, but
unable to reel the Primera back into line. This set
off a chain reaction, with Fogg "T-boning"
the unfortunate Tony Oliver. Kiwi Team mate John McIntyre
got caught up in the drama, bouncing over the uneven
grass sideways at speed and almost rolling. Kevin Bell
also made a cross country excursion in the mayhem. Only
the Toyotas and the BMWs of Harris and Millener cleared
the carnage unscathed.
The
safety car was dispatched and the cars reassembling
behind it. The order was Hellebrekers, Thomlinson, Millener,
Harris, Bell and Oliver. Fogg and McIntyre took the
opportunity to return to the pits and have their cars
checked over before returning to the track a lap down
on the field.
The
race resumed on lap five, but only Kevin Bell provided
any entertainment for the crowd as he worked his way
through the field to try and put some pressure on the
lead cars. Aaron Harris was his first victim, followed
by Peter Millener
Hellebrekers
had made a jump on the field from the safety car start.
With the cars well spread out, both Team Kiwi cars effectively
out of the race, and neither Thomlinson or Bell able
to make any further impression on the car in front,
the race became processional. It was a pity because
all other things being equal, this years racing has
been incredibly competitive and entertaining.
Hellebrekers
had a great weekend and his domination of the weekends
racing must give him renewed confidence for the final
round of the Championship at Manfeild in April 2002.
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