Triple Porsche triumph for Triple X

Porsche GT3 Cup leading team Triple X Motorsport has dominated today’s opening race at Christchurch’s Powerbuilt Tools Raceway this afternoon – securing first second and third.

Led by Gold Coast based Kiwi Craig Baird in the Barrons - ZM Porsche 997, he took a lights to flag finish in the ten lap race under baking sun at the Ruapuna circuit. Second was Melbourne’s David Reynolds in the Placemakers – Karcher car with Daniel Gaunt in the Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group Porsche finishing third.

Following the same order from this morning’s qualifying session, Baird stamped his authority on the 3.33km circuit by setting his fastest time early in the piece – able to sit and watch his peers try matching his mark.

“I had a bit of pace over the other boys so it was a case of getting off the line clean, stay out of trouble at turn one and concentrate on breaking the lap record – which I did,” said Baird after winning by just over a second in the race and lowered the lap time to 1 minute 23.827 seconds.

“It’s good for Triple-X. Obviously that was the main goal at the beginning of the year was to try get three guys on the podium and that’s working.”

His first visit to the South Island venue, 23-year old Reynolds said the specialist nature of the circuit added to his challenge of trying to better series leader Baird: “It’s a pretty hard track – sort of reminds be a bit of Winton in Australia which is also quite technical. You just never put the right lap together and I struggle at Winton so maybe that’s why I’m struggling here.”

A coming together when the Hampsta – MPD Dairy Products car of Rodney Forbes spun, put team principal Shane McKillen in the VnC Cocktails Porsche out of the race mid-way. That left team rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm Porsche 997) to finish fifth with Forbes classified 12th.

With the searing summer conditions expected to continue on Sunday, the six-car team has a ten-lap race in the morning, the team Movember shave-off at lunch time followed by a 14-lap top-six reverse grid race in the afternoon.

Ends.

Hamsta 200 – round two (of six) Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup
Race 1 (ten laps) – top five
Craig Baird - Barrons - ZM 997 14min09.674
David Reynolds - Placemakers – Karcher 997 +1.123s
Daniel Gaunt - Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group 997 +7.576s
Jody Vincent 997 +13.005
Courtney Letica – Altherm 997 +18.861s