Scott takes BNT V8s series lead in Christchurch

With three hard-fought second places, Hamilton race driver Kayne Scott has moved into the lead of the BNT V8s Championship after the third of this season’s seven rounds in Christchurch this weekend.

 

Racing on the tight and technical Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park outside Christchurch, the BNT V8s’ three races had three different winners. After Scott set the weekend’s quickest qualifying time in the Fujitsu Ford, the first race was then won by Angus Fogg in the LG Ford. Defending champion John McIntyre took the second race in the Talley’s Ford. Then Craig Baird, the multiple Porsche series champion racing his first full season in the BNT V8s, had an astonishing run in the reverse grid race, coming from 24th to take his first win in the BNT V8s Championship.

 

“Our car is stronger under brakes than John’s [McIntyre] here and we had more pace than him in the last race,” commented Scott who now has 533 points, just four more than McIntyre who led the series coming into this third round. “We’ve had a great car here for the last three years, John’s had a good car at Timaru where we race next and last year when we went to Manfeild, Angus [Fogg] blew us all away. So you do find that the cars are different at different circuits and we’ve got plenty of work we want to do on the Fujitsu Ford before the next round.”

 

Nelson-based McIntyre was happy to have the points earned from a fifth, a third and a win. “We salvaged something out of nothing really,” said the two-time and defending V8s champion. “We didn’t have the car speed here after demonstrating good speed at Taupo and Pukekohe, but I’m very happy to have the points.”

 

Making one of the biggest leaps up the championship points’ table, Angus Fogg was delighted to have improved from 16th to eighth overall after working hard to secure his first, fourth and eighth race places. “Now we’re scoring better finishes, so who knows where we’ll be after a couple more rounds if we can keep this up,” said the LG Ford driver. “We just didn’t have the car speed in that last reverse grid race and I watched others, like Craig Baird, just get through the field so quickly. It’s not every reverse grid race that you’d be able to do what Craig did.”

 

In terms of the weekend’s results, Scott took the round win, with McIntyre second, Fogg third and Andy Booth and Craig Baird fourth equal after Booth put on a very consistent performance with third, fourth and placings in the Big Ben Pies Holden. Baird’s outstanding reverse grid win in the United Video Ford added to a third and a twelfth to allow the Gold Coast-based Kiwi to improve from eighth to match Booth for the round honours.

 

With Scott and McIntyre leading the championship proceedings, two-time V8s champion Booth is now third overall with 416 points, 113 adrift of McIntyre. After Baird on 359 points, former champions Paul Manuell and Paul Pedersen share fifth place with 329 points each.

 

The BNT V8s return to the South Island in the New Year with round four at the Timaru International Raceway over the weekend of 9-11 January and round five the following weekend at Teretonga Park outside Invercargill. More information is available on the website www.nzv8s.co.nz.

 

QUALIFYING IN MORE DETAIL

Experienced Hamilton racing driver Kayne Scott took the Fujitsu Ford to pole position having been fastest in each of the three qualifying sessions. Scott employed a minimalist strategy to come out part way through each session for three or four laps, set the time he was striving for, and then go back to the pits to await the next session.

 

The former V8s champion’s pole-winning time was 1:30.135, more than one hundredth of a second under the V8s class lap record of 1:30.267 set by Paul Pedersen in 2005 for the twisty technical Ruapuna circuit. Although the lap record can only be broken during actual races, Scott’s time is indicative of the increasingly intense pace at the front of the BNT V8s field.

 

With the second quickest time – also under the lap record – was Angus Fogg in the LG Ford, making it an all-Ford front row. The first Holden was the Big Ben Pies Commodore of two-time V8s champion Andy Booth in position three while current series leader and defending champion John McIntyre was fourth quickest in the Talley’s Ford.

 

The ten best qualifying times were rounded out by Craig Baird (United Video Ford), Paul Manuell, (Orix Holden), Andy Knight (Milwaukee Ford), Eddie Bell (Metalman Ford), Paul Pedersen (Tigercat Ford) and Tim Edgell in the Chesters Ford.

 

RACE ONE IN MORE DETAIL

Angus Fogg got a brilliant start against Kayne Scott to lead the 24-strong V8 field into the first corner.

 

“I was watching for the green light and just went,” said Fogg, who leapt from 16th to 11th in the points’ standings with the 75 points earned from the race win. “It certainly helps with the championship points to get a win or two.”

 

Chasing Fogg, Scott also had to battle a fast-starting Craig Baird in the United Video Ford, but held on for second while Baird was pleased to get his first podium finish in the BNT V8s class after yet another dominant win in the Porsche GT3 Cup class earlier in the day.

 

Baird’s swift move down the inside during the rolling start took him past Andy Booth (Big Ben Pies Holden) and John McIntyre (Talley’s Ford) in the second row. Booth and McIntyre battled for fourth and fifth place for virtually for the entire 12 lap race with McIntyre getting past Booth at one point, but Booth regaining the advantage on the very next bend.

 

“That makes three Waikato – or ex-Waikato – boys in the top three,” laughed Fogg who was originally from Cambridge. Second-placed Scott lives in Hamilton while Baird, who now lives on the Gold Coast, was originally Hamilton.

 

“It’s nice to be in the lead points-wise,” commented Scott about his overnight points’ advantage. “Angus had an exceptional start and I’d actually like to do that start all over again!”

 

Baird commented that it’s important not to overdrive the V8. “With the Porsche you can push them hard everywhere and these V8s are a good fun car, but you can’t push them so hard. It’s good to be here, having finished third.”

 

From a relatively well-placed sixth on the grid, Paul Manuell in the Orix Holden suffered a broken throttle cable on the last lap to finish 21st, while Andrew Porter also suffered engine problems in the Hydraulink Ford and Boyd Norwood’s weekend was over with a gearbox failure.

 

Christchurch’s Andy Knight and Eddie Bell finished sixth and seventh respectively with trouble-free races while, in eighth, Tim Edgell had a stronger run that reflected his quick testing times on Friday after changing a problematic gearbox after qualifying. Paul Pedersen bought the Tigercat Ford home in ninth to move from sixth to fourth on the points’ table and another Christchurch driver Adam Brook wrapped up the top ten.

 

RACE TWO IN MORE DETAIL

John McIntyre took the chequered flag in an exciting second race which saw race lead change three times.

 

The winner of race one, Angus Fogg, had pole position with Kayne Scott beside him on and all-Ford front row. With a new rule in place for the BNT V8s rolling start procedure, Fogg controlled the field at 50 km/h until the start lights turned green. Scott lost out in the tussle going into the first corner, with Craig Baird nipping the United Video Ford into second place and McIntyre getting from fifth on the grid into third. As the 24-strong BNT V8s field completed the first lap, Fogg had the lead with the top ten comprising Baird, McIntyre, Andy Booth, Scott, Tim Edgell, Paul Pedersen, Andy Knight, Adam Brook and Dale Williams.

 

While Fogg, Baird and McIntyre build a steady lead, the overnight series leader Scott got passed Booth, then started chasing down McIntyre. Baird’s pursuit of Fogg increased in intensity, his first attempt at passing taking place on the sweeping left-handed ‘pothole’ bend on the eleventh lap. But Fogg had the best line for the next corner, the tight hairpin. As the pair came through the tight middle section, officials judged Baird had tagged Fogg, causing the LG Ford driver to spin and allowing McIntyre and Scott through. Baird then took the imposed drive-through penalty to finish 12th.

 

Meanwhile Scott and McIntyre’s battle at the front got serious with Scott using every bit of his year’s of top class racing experience to try and get passed McIntyre. Despite the pressure, McIntyre held on to take his second win of the season. Booth took third, adding to his very consistent series of top finishes to date this season. Fogg recovered from the spin to take fourth with Tim Edgell holding a very credible fifth place in the Chesters Ford which was extensively damaged in Pukekohe’s massive crash just three weeks ago. Pedersen, Brook, Eddie Bell, Williams and Andrew Porter completed the top ten.

 

The win put McIntyre back in the lead by just three points in front of Scott ahead of the weekend’s third race.

 

RACE THREE IN MORE DETAIL

The traditional BNT V8s full reverse grid third race had Chris Adams in the Mastertrade Holden and Andrew Anderson in the ITM Holden on the front row. All 25 competitors navigated the first sweeping left-hander relatively tidily with Anderson smartly into the lead and Michael Bristow into second in the Tex Onsite Ford.

 

Craig Baird was already cutting swathes through the field in the United Video Ford, eighth after one lap and second by the end of the fourth lap while Anderson was establishing a handy lead. Steve Owen, the current Australian V8 Supercar development series leader driving the HPM Ford, took advantage of his eighth grid placing to chase Anderson and Baird.

 

By lap six, Baird was up on Anderson, as McIntyre and Scott were also working their way up the running order, and on the seventh lap, Baird was in front with Anderson, Owen, Paul Manuell in the Orix Holden, Dale Williams in the SG Racing Ford making up the top five strung out behind him.

 

Clouds of dust appeared regularly as competitors pushed hard to pass, resulting in three drivers – Paul Pedersen, Andrew Porter and Steve Owen – being required to complete drive-through penalties.

 

After Anderson spun and Owen was penalised for tapping him, the battle between Manuell, McIntyre and Scott heated up. Scott came out best, passing both McIntyre and Manuell to leap into second. With all 25 competitors finishing the reverse grid race with no need for intervention from the safety car, Baird was followed over the finish line by Scott, McIntyre, Manuell, Booth, Williams, Nick Ross in the Total Lubricants Holden, Fogg, Eddie Bell in the Metalman Ford and Tim Edgell in the Chesters Ford.

ENDS/

 

BNT V8s Championship – Qualifying, Round 3

Qualifying position, driver, hometown, car, qualifying time

1, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 1:30.135

2, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:30.222

3, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 1:30.671

4, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 1:30.780

5, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 1:30.968

6, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 1:31.225

7, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 1:31.276

8, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 1:31.401

9, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 1:31.816

10, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:32.058

11, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 1:31.509

12, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 1:31.688

13, Steve Owen, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 1:31.784

14, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:31.806

15, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 1:31.979

16, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 1:32.086

17, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 1:32.289

18, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:32.604

19, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 1:32.773

20, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 1:33.163

21, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 1:33.484

22, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1:33.918

23, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 1:34.253

24, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 1:34.519

25, Boyd Norwood, Palmerston North, Ford Falcon, 1:36.020

 

BNT V8s Championship – Round 3, Race 1

Position, driver, hometown, car, provisional points earned

1, Angus Fogg, Auckland, 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, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 49

6, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 45

7, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 42

8, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 39

9, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 36

10, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 33

11, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 30

12, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 28

13, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 26

14, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 24

15, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 22

16, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 20

17, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 18

18, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 16

19, Steve Owen, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 14

20, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 12

21, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 10

22, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 9

23, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 8

DNF, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon

DNS, Boyd Norwood, Palmerston North, Ford Falcon

 

BNT V8s Championship – Round 3, Race 2

Position, driver, hometown, car, provisional points earned

1, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 75

2, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 67

3, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 60

4, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 54

5, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 49

6, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 45

7, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 42

8, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 39

9, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 36

10, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 33

11, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 30

12, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 28

13, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 26

14, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 24

15, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 22

16, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 20

17, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 18

18, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 16

19, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 14

20, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 12

21, Steve Owen, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 10

22, Boyd Norwood, Palmerston North, Ford Falcon, 9

23, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 8

24, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 7

DNF, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon

 

BNT V8s Championship – Round 3, Race 3

Position, driver, hometown, car, provisional points earned

1, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 75

2, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 67

3, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 60

4, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 54

5, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 49

6, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 45

7, Nick, Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 42

8, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 39

9, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 36

10, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 33

11, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 30

12, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 28

13, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 26

14, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 24

15, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 22

16, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 20

17, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 18

18, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 16

19, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 14

20, Steve Owen, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 12

21, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 10

22, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 9

23, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 8

24, Boyd Norwood, Palmerston North, Ford Falcon, 7

25, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 6

 

BNT V8s Championship – Provisional points after Round 3

Position, driver, hometown, car, provisional championship points

1, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 533

2, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 529

3, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 416

4, Craig Baird, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 359

5, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 331

6, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 329

7, Eddie Bell, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 312

8, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 306

9, Dale Williams, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 300

10, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 291

11, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 280

12, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 249

13, John Penny, Taupo, Holden Commodore, 235

14, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 228

15, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 200

16, Paul Radisich, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 181

17, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 170

18, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 161

19, Andy Knight, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 150

20, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore, 149

21, Steve Owen, Melbourne, Ford Falcon, 146

22, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon, 140

23, Alan McCarrison, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 129

24, Boyd Norwood, Palmerston North, Ford Falcon, 114

25, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 112

26, David Besnard, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon, 88

27, Cam Hardy, Hamilton, Holden Commodore, 54

28, Julia Huzziff, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 48

29, Dave Stewart, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 26

30, Shaun Turton, Pukekohe, Holden Commodore, 18

31, Dean Perkins, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 0

 

 

2008-09 BNT V8s Championship Calendar

Round 1 (Fujitsu 200), Taupo Motorsport Park, 3-5 October 2008

Round 2, Pukekohe Park, 7-9 November 2008

Round 3, Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway (Christchurch), 28-30 November 2008

Round 4, Timaru International Motor Raceway, 9-11 January 2009

Round 5, Teretonga Park (Invercargill), 16-18 January 2009

Round 6, Manfeild Park (Fielding), 27 February - 1 March 2009

Round 7, Pukekohe Park, 13-15 March 2009