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MOTORSPORT

Triple podium finish for Triple X Porsche team

Monday 18 January 2010, 8:56AM

By Triple X Motorsport

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Defending Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge champion Craig Baird holds an 82 point lead in the standings following the weekend's third round held at Teretonga near Invercargill
Defending Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge champion Craig Baird holds an 82 point lead in the standings following the weekend's third round held at Teretonga near Invercargill Credit: SportProMedia

INVERCARGILL

Winning the weekend’s third round of the 2009/10 Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Melbourne’s David Reynolds led home team-mates Craig Baird and Daniel Gaunt for a one-two-three finish in the final race at Invercargill’s Teretonga circuit.

Reynolds in the #8 Hampsta Indians bar Porsche 997 won two of the weekend’s three races in the six round series, moving to fifth in the overall standings – behind series leader and defending champion Craig Baird in the sister Mad Butcher ZM car.

“It’s been a good weekend – we’ve got good cars with good race pace. Unfortunately losing one second the pit-stop in the first race cost me the triple victory,” said Reynolds.

“Everyone drove very well in the last race and drove hard - and that’s what I like doing.”

Baird’s 86-point lead at the head of the standings has him ahead of rival Matt Halliday and Triple X Motorsport team-mate Daniel Gaunt – driving the #3 Placemakers Hampsta Porsche 997.

With all of the team’s five cars finishing the three races, the picture perfect fine weather was a welcome return to Auckland’s Courtney Letica following his serious crash at the previous round near Christchurch.

However his final race was dealt an early set-back when he clashed with Matt Halliday during the warm-up lap. With both cars puncturing the pair started from pit-lane with Letica finishing fifth overall for the final race.

Also dealt an early-race blow, team principal Shane McKillen was hit and spun, rejoining the rear of the field to eventually finish in 12th position.

Damage-free, the five Porsche cars will undergo extensive preparation ahead of next weekend’s fourth round being held at Timaru (23-24 January 2010).

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Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 2009/2010 points after round three (of six) - top-nine.

Pos Car No. Name Hometown Total

1 1 Craig Baird Queensland 793
2 21 Matt Halliday USA 707
3 3 Daniel Gaunt Auckland 666
4 9 Jonny Reid Auckland 619
5 8 David Reynolds Melbourne 584
6 82 Andrew Bagnall Auckland 447
7 96 Anthony Pedersen Rotorua 394
8 5 Courtney Letica Auckland 394
9 2 Shane McKillen Auckland 388