NELSON'S BASALAJ RAIDS CHRISTCHURCH TROPHY CABINET

From seventh on the grid to the chequered flag in rain, sleet and even snow, Nelson’s Nevil Basalaj was not to be denied victory in the third southern region round of the 2016 Polaris New Zealand Offroad Championship.

Having dropped out of the Mainland Challenge enduro in June with an axle failure, he was back in Christchurch on Saturday and had one outcome in mind: to dominate the 260 km forest race on the banks of the Waimakariri River.

The event was the last chance for southern drivers to add to their points tallies in the championship before they head to the all-in national final at Twizel in October.

On the day, the race track and pit area were lashed by rain, sleet and even snow as a polar blast sent freezing weather up from the south. More than half the field experienced mechanical issues including pole man Kevin Nankivell, who had an electrical system issue put him out of the running.

Only the top three - Basalaj, Wayne Moriarty and Bob Uttridge - completed the full 13 laps of the course. Basalaj set fastest lap, a 16:20 for the 20 km distance on lap 8.

The opening laps of the race were drama-filled, with three different leaders in three laps. Slim Slee had qualified P2 and overtook Kevin Nankivell on the opening lap to lead but went out a lap later, while Whangarei’s Jardyne Lammers had swept from tenth on the grid to fourth in the same distance. He followed Bob Uttridge through a lap later to be second overall as Uttridge claimed the lead.

Nevil Basalaj had dropped to 13th, held up when Carl Gardiner’s Nissan truck broke its suspension and spun, blocking the track. Basalaj then powered through to lead the race on the fourth lap and was never headed. Lammers held on in second place until lap seven, then dropped back and out of contention.

That allowed Wayne Moriarty to close in on Basalaj, though the Canterbury driver was making sure of winning his class  and was not going to challenge the bigger, faster Jimco Chev of Basalaj.

There was excitement of a different type for class 8 driver Bryan Chang, who split his fuel tank on the West Melton track’s big table-top jump. The leaking fuel then ignited as he ehaded away into the forest, with race officials frantically calling marshal points to wave him down. It was class two driver Steven Boyd who chased down the bigger, faster truck in his Suzuki Vitara. Unable to attract Chang’s attention, he resorted to hitting the Chang truck from behind, and Chang stopped soon after. Boyd and Darrin Thomason both stopped and helped Chang put out the fire using the extinguishers every car is required to carry.

“I was having a good race, lapping quicker than the other class two trucks and as quick as some of the class eights. Then I saw Bryan on fire and had to think what to do to get him to stop. It was pretty scary,” said Boyd afterward.

Unfortunately, the impact with Chang’s truck sheared bolts holding the front bumper on Boyd’s Suzuki, and on the same lap it fell off, puncturing the Suzuki’s one fuel tank. Boyd ran out of fuel and was out of the running on the seventh lap.

Chang said it was the first such issue he had experienced with his truck, which is the first NZ-built Pro Lite design and has been national champion.

Yamaha driver Bob Uttridge had fallen as low as ninth after leading briefly, but then fought his way back into contention for a podium finish and ended the race third overall, ten minutes adrift of Basalaj and two behind Moriarty.

Basalaj’s win means he heads to October’s national final with top points plus 20 bonus points for completing all three regional rounds.

-End-

Top ten, round five, 2016 Polaris New Zealand Offroad Racing Championship

Nevil Basalaj (Jimco Chev, also wins class one, fastest lap of the day)

Wayne Moriarty (Tatum Toyota, also wins class three)

Bob Uttridge (Yamaha, also wins S class UTV)

Mark Howden (Polaris, also wins U class UTVs)

Brendon Old

Rosco Gaudin (Polaris)

Bridget Dixon (Polaris)

Greg Winn (RV Magnum Toyota)

Brad Harvey (also wins V Dub Spares Challenger class)