Teretonga Porsche enduro could change championship

This weekend’s third round of the New Zealand Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge at Invercargill’s Teretonga circuit will provide the ultimate test for series leader Daniel Gaunt and defending champion, Craig Baird of the Triple X Motorsport team.

From a stable of six cars for the two-in-two race weekend fiesta, Gaunt in the #3 MPD VnC Cocktails

Porsche 997 holds a 52 point lead over second placed Jonny Reid. Baird, in the #1 ZM Mad Butcher Porsche 997 is placed sixth, 180 points behind Gaunt.

With the 2.61 kilometre circuit famed for its thrilling layout, it’s southern nature will see it play host to a 38-lap race on the Saturday afternoon for the Auckland based Porsche team.

“There is a lot of racing to be done,” says Gaunt, the current championship leader and twice second runner-up in the series. “If we can keep it going it’s ours to lose - so I’m going out there to do the same as I have for first two rounds.”

“The track is pretty unique and one of my favourites. There are not too many corners like turn-one. There is a lot of time to be won or lost – it’s mighty challenging; you enter it in sixth gear and have to have full commitment, in to, through and even out, to have a good lap time there.”

Likely to get in his way, ex-pat Kiwi Craig Baird says a change in tactic should change his luck for the better. Well known for his endurance race domination, the six-time winner of the Porsche GT3 Cup has shown race leading speed – but has been unable to secure the race points.

“We’ve shown all season we’re the quickest car – just not the luckiest. There are people out there you can race wheel to wheel with, the Jonny Reid’s and the Dan Gaunt’s. There are others that haven’t got the speed to win races, so their claim-to-fame is mix it up in the reverse grid race – where you end up tripping over them. I’ve probably been putting myself in positions where I’ve been reliant on other people, so I’ll just get back to my normal ways – to try and win races and not worry about spoilt little brats. Now it’s just me, head down and push on as hard as I can,” said Baird.

Series rookie Scott Harrison will make his second start at the world’s most southern circuit, mindful of the difference between last year’s Suzuki and this year’s Mad Butcher Carpet One Porsche 997.

“The added speed and handling characteristics will make it a completely different experience,” said the Whangarei based builder. “I’m really looking forward to it; racing with the team and the Invercargill atmosphere.”

Team principal Shane McKillen has set his theme for the New Year, raring to race the VnC Cocktails Porsche 997 and continue his good run of form. Christchurch businessman Paul Kelly will start 2011 with a newly freshened engine in his Paul Kelly Motor Company Porsche 997, making up for missing his home weekend of racing in November last year.

The Outlaws Bar Porsche 997 will be driven by either Michael Morton (Auckland) or Earl Bamber (Wanganui), depending on sponsorship negotiations.

Beginning the southern weekend, the drivers get two test sessions on Friday 14 January before the chance to do hot-lap rides for event guests. Saturday’s return to business starts with the race qualifying session from 11:30 in the morning, with the 38-lap race starting at 3:35pm. The weekend’s second race starts at 11:30am on the Sunday with the top-six reverse grid 16-lap race to start at 3:15pm.

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New Zealand Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge points after round two (of six) – top-ten.
1 Daniel Gaunt, Triple X Motorsport, Auckland, 429
2 Jonny Reid, Auckland, 377
3 Mitchell Cunningham, Auckland, 301
4 Scott Harrison, Triple X Motorsport, Whangarei, 267
5 Shane McKillen, Triple X Motorsport, Auckland, 262
6 Craig Baird, Triple X Motorsport, Queensland, 249
7 Mark Whyman, Kerikeri, 189
8 Simon McLennan, Upper Hutt, 180
9 Paul Kelly, Triple X Motorsport, Christchurch, 172
10 Earl Bamber, Triple X Motorsport, Wanganui, 169