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Tinkering pays off big time for Kiwi Scott Dixon

Scott Dixon made a big gamble pay off yesterday.

After allowing engineer Chris Simmons to tinker with his car's qualifying trim and later questioning whether the changes might be too daring, Dixon delivered with the fastest speeds he has ever seen at Indianapolis.

The New Zealander finished with a four-lap average of 232.164 mp/h, claiming his third Indianapolis 500 pole with the best qualifying run in 21 years.

He easily held off the other front-row starters, Ed Carpenter at 231.664 and defending champion Alexander Rossi at 231.487.

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

MY THOUGHTS FROM AUTOPOLIS

Autopolis was nothing special, despite the belief that the nature of the circuit would be well suited to the rear-engined Porsche.

Unlike Fuji - where a wrong tyre call was the root cause of a poor result - at Autopolis we didn't have any excuses. We just didn't have the pace.

This was a theme common across both Porsches in the 30-strong GT300 class. We both failed to reach the second phase of qualifying, where only the top 14 cars go through.

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

Smeg Racing win controversial North Island Endurance Series opener

Smeg Racing’s Simon Evans and Gene Rollinson won the opening round of the ENEOS North Island Endurance Series Three Hour race in a controversial finish.

The pair were eventually confirmed winners at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo following a post-race investigation due to an incident late in the race during their pit stop.

Evans said he was happy to take first dibs in the 2017 edition of the endurance series.

“We’re happy to get home the win,” Evans said.

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

Tricky conditions no trouble for triumphant Whittaker in One Hour

International Motorsport’s Matt Whittaker took a dominant One Hour victory in trying conditions for the opening round of the ENEOS North Island Endurance Series.

“It’s a really good way to start, but it was pretty wet out there,” Whittaker said.

“There was a fair bit of aquaplaning at the start of the race then it dried up, which was good.

“We took a fairly low risk approach, stayed out of trouble and then just progressively pulled away.”

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

Paddon ponders what might have been in Portugal

A rally of what might have been is how Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon describes Rally de Portugal, which wrapped up on Sunday afternoon (Western European summer time).

With new British co-driver Sebastian Marshall alongside for the first time at a World Rally Championship event, Paddon’s result way down the running order didn’t reflect the potential of the new pairing, which secured four stage wins. Paddon was also one of seven different drivers to lead the rally over the three-day, 19-stage itinerary.

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

CASSIDY EXTENDS LEAD IN JAPAN'S SUPER GT SERIES

Nick Cassidy and his partner Ryo Hirakawa have extended their points lead in Japan’s top race series, SUPER GT, despite only finishing sixth in the Autopolis 300 kms race last night in their Lexus LC 500.
 
The pair went into the event with just a single point lead over fellow LC 500 drivers Kazuya Oshima and Andrea Caldarelli, who finished outside the top ten and gained no points.
 
Cassidy’s closest rival is now James Rossiter who won the race in another Lexus LC 500 with his former Formula One co-driver Kazuki Nakajima.
 

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

Clark takes 2017 SpeedSport Scholarship

Conrad Clark has won the 2017 SpeedSport 'Star of Tomorrow' Motor-Racing Scholarship after setting lightning quick times on the track and impressing the judges during the off the track interviews.

The 14-year-old Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College student quickly sent a message to fellow competitors that he was there to win, setting the fastest time every session on Saturday's evaluation day before continuing his speed over to Sunday's finals contest, setting the fastest lap every session too.

Published Date: 

Tuesday, 23 May, 2017

VERSATILE HOPPER ADDS NEW HAWKE'S BAY EVENT TO TWO-DAY TARGA TALLY

A versatile Leigh Hopper and co-driver Michael Goudie (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) have added victory in the new Targa Hawke's Bay tarmac motor rally over the weekend to the Orewa driver's impressive two-day event tally.

Last year Hopper won his fourth two-day Targa event in Rotorua, making his win in this weekend's Hawke's Bay event a record fifth.

He and Goudie did in style too, taking over the lead half-way through the first leg on Saturday when early pace-setter Jason Gill and co-driver Mark Robinson (Mitsubishi Evo 9) slid off the road and lost time.

Published Date: 

Sunday, 21 May, 2017

Van Gisbergen leads Red Bull fightback in Race 10

Shane van Gisbergen defeated Jamie Whincup in an entertaining late-race battle at the Winton SuperSprint as Red Bull turned the tables on rivals Shell V-Power Racing.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from a late mistake from Whincup to score his maiden win at Winton and record the first win for a Red Bull-backed Holden at the Victorian venue.

The form of the Shell V-Power Fords meant Red Bull had not won since Race 3 of the season at Symmons Plains.

“It’s been tough but we’re on our way back and feeling really good,” said Van Gisbergen post-race.

Published Date: 

Sunday, 21 May, 2017

McLaughlin scores third straight win

Scott McLaughlin edged closer to the lead of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship with a commanding win in Race 9 at Winton.

McLaughlin looked unstoppable throughout the 40 laps as he beat home Jamie Whincup, Fabian Coulthard and David Reynolds, who charged from 14th to fourth.

“I’ve got a fantastic car under me that just about drives itself,” smiled McLaughlin, who is now second in points, just 10 behind team-mate Coulthard.

Published Date: 

Saturday, 20 May, 2017

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