McIntyre makes it two from two at Manfeild

Defending BNT V8s champion John McIntyre has won two of the three BNT V8 races at Manfeild, moving into the championship lead with just two points’ advantage over Kayne Scott who has led the series for the last two rounds.

 

With starting positions for the BNT V8s second race of the weekend determined by the finishing positions in race one, McIntyre had the advantage of pole position with Andy Booth alongside. The top ten on the grid were completed by Craig Baird, Paul Manuell, Kayne Scott, Adam Brook, Michael Bristow, Eddie Bell, Andrew Porter and John Penny.

 

Manfeild’s first right-hander is always tightly contested in the BNT V8s with Manuell losing out to Baird but getting the place back again while Bristow gained on Brook. Bell spun in the esses, then Baird out-braked Manuell coming into the Dunlop sweeper for the first time. An incident for Dale Williams bought the safety car out while Brook, Paul Pedersen, Nick Ross and John Penny were involved in a tangle at the Higgins right-hander. When Ross returned to the circuit he decided he should rejoin the line behind the safety car in the position he left the circuit, but officials didn’t agree and later penalised the Total Oil Commodore driver.

 

Racing again with McIntyre being chased by Booth, Baird, Scott and Manuell, Baird pulled the same passing manoeuvre on Booth. Angus Fogg, who had been holding sixth place overall in the LG Ford, had to retire with a damaged radiator while the battle between Booth and Scott intensified, allowing McIntyre to extend an unbeatable lead. Scott and then Baird got passed Booth and that’s the order the leaders finished.

 

The 75 points McIntyre earned for his race win gives him a total of 947, just two more than Scott. With the 20-lap reverse grid race scheduled for 3pm always providing a mix of opportunities for the leading drivers, the BNT V8s championship lead is very much up for grabs this afternoon.

ENDS/

 

BNT V8s Championship

Round six (Manfeild), race two

Position, Driver, Hometown, Car, Provisional points

1, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 75

2, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 67

3, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 60

4, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 54

5, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 49

6, Dean Perkins*, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 0

7, Luke Youlden, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 45

8, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 42

9, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 39

10, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 36

11, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 33

12, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 30

13, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 28

14, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 26

15, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 24

16, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 22

17, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 20

18, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 18

19, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 16

20, Paul Pedersen, Taupo, Ford Falcon, 14

21, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 12

DNF, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 0

DNF, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 0

DNF, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore,0