Baird takes first pole for BNT V8s at Manfeild

Craig Baird, the Gold Coast-based kiwi expat, has taken pole position in the United Video Ford for the penultimate round of the BNT V8s Championship at Manfeild, in Feilding.

 

Baird, a many-time race champion, is racing in his first full season in the BNT V8s – while also racing and leading the Porsche GT3 Cup series – and is currently fourth on the BNT V8s championship points’ table with just six races, or two rounds of the season to run. Baird’s first BNT V8s pole position was earned with a very competitive time of 1:12.882.

 

Andrew Anderson lines up beside Baird, with an outstanding qualifying time of 1:13.100 for the West Auckland racer. This creates a different-looking front row which would more usually include one of this season’s top two drivers Kayne Scott or John McIntyre. Anderson’s time in the ITM Commodore was the best of the Holden drivers.

 

McIntyre was third fastest with a time of 1:13.144 in the John McIntyre Racing Ford while Scott’s Fujitsu Ford team appeared to make a strategic error as they raced to change the car’s set-up during the first few minutes of the final 15-minute qualifying session. Rain swept across the Manawatu circuit for the fourth or fifth time and Scott missed the opportunity to set a competitive qualifying time on the dry circuit with the rest of the top ten qualifiers. With a slim 32 point margin between Scott at the top of the leader-board and defending champion McIntyre, Scott’s ninth position on the starting grid for race one could have a significant effect on his overall championship position.

 

Beside McIntyre for the weekend’s first race is LG Ford driver Angus Fogg, who won here at Manfeild twice last year as well as setting a new lap record of 1:12.810. The third row comprises Tim Edgell in the Chesters Ford and Paul Pedersen in the Tigercat Ford. The top ten will be rounded out by Andy Booth in the Big Ben Holden, Paul Manuell in the Orix Holden, Scott and Andy Knight in the Milwaukee Ford in position ten.

 

The first race of 12 laps takes place at 4pm on Saturday with Sunday’s 16-lap race at 11:10am and the 20-lap reverse grid race scheduled for 3pm. All three races have rolling starts.

ENDS/

 

BNT V8s Championship

Qualifying for round six, Manfeild

Position, Driver, Hometown, Car, Qualifying time

1, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 1:12.882

2, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 1:13.100

3, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 1:13.144

4, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:13.151

5, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:13.193

6, Paul Pedersen, Taupo, Ford Falcon, 1:13.395

7, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 1:13.527

8, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 1:13.547

9, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 1:30.143

10, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 1:42.374

11, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 1:13.743

12, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:13.814

13, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:13.825

14, Luke Youlden, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 1:13.846

15, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 1:13.944

16, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 1:13.957

17, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 1:13.960

18, Dean Perkins, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 1:14.057

19, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 1:14.167

20, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 1:14.350

21, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 1:14.681

22, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 1:15.447

23, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 1:15.452

24, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:16.790