Having set fastest time in qualifying for today’s first race in the fourth round of the 2009/10 Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Triple X Motorsport driver Craig Baird’s victory included a new lap record at the Timaru circuit.
Driving the #1 ZM Mad Butcher Porsche 997, Baird’s time of 1 minute 01.549 around the 2.4km track lowers the previous mark set by team-mate David Reynolds who drives the #8 Hampsta Indians bar Porsche 997.
“I thought it was going to be hard starting from the inside,” said Baird’s whose track position put him off-line for the run through the first series of corners. “I took it easy off the start, picked up some traction, got to the first corner first and that was that really.
“The lap record was there for the taking really. The track is in good nick, with some new seal down. Using brand new tyres because of qualifying in the wet – we had that extra bit more grip. But I needed that win – definitely,” added Baird of the dry weather for the afternoon race.
Second fastest in qualifying and second in this afternoon’s 12-lap race, Reynolds was just out of Baird’s reach while defending his position from a chasing team-mate Daniel Gaunt in the #3 Placemakers Hampsta car.
Finishing third, Gaunt was glad to be still racing after a collision during qualifying while avoiding the un-folding accident of Matt Halliday.
“It put us on the back-foot really – having to stop and repair damage so I could continue. The team kept its composure, keeping us in the top-three – so it was good to still have the pace,” said the 24-year-old Gaunt.
Starting from the damp inside-line, Gaunt said being able to get away cleanly and maintain position was crucial to his weekend results.
Auckland’s 21-year-old Courtney Letica in the #5 Altherm Porsche 997 finished fifth having comfortably kept a chasing Matt Halliday at bay. Christchurch’s Paul Kelly in the #90 Paul Kelly Motors Porsche 997 was eighth with team principal Shane McKillen in the #2 VnC Cocktails Juice bar Porsche 997 in ninth.
With dry weather predicted for tomorrow morning’s 12-lap race, conditions for the afternoon 16-lap top-six reverse grid race are expected to be wet.
Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Race 1
1 1 Craig Baird
2 8 David Reynolds
3 3 Daniel Gaunt
4 9 Jonny Reid
5 5 Courtney Letica
6 21 Matt Halliday
7 32 Mitch Cunningham
8 90 Paul Kelly
9 2 Shane McKillen
10 15 Hugh Gardiner
11 82 Andrew Bagnall
12 26 Simon McLennan
13 11 Simon Evans
14 77 Alan Dippie
15 99 Colin Caldwell
