Upper Hutt Porsche GT3 racer Simon McLennan and his driving partner Craig Innes of Taupo added their names to an elite list when they won the annual Six Hour endurance race at Pukekohe Park Raceway, south of Auckland last Saturday.
The duo received the Dan Peoples Memorial Trophy for their well deserved victory. Dan was a dedicated flaggie during the 1960s and the trophy was set up as a memorial after his death. It has been awarded to the winner of the Northern Sports Car Club's premier feature race of the year since the early 1960s and for the past 14 years has gone to the winner of the annual Pukekohe Six Hour Endurance race. The trophy has been won by some of New Zealand's best drivers over the years and McLennan and Innes will now have their names engraved alongside greats such as Paul Fahey and Jim Richards. "It wasn't until the series co-ordinators mentioned the illustrious names on the trophy that I realised just what we had achieved," said Simon after the race. "I was "overwhelmed, it was humbling."
The pair drove the New World Metro On Willis Porsche GT3 996 that Simon had used to secure the runner-up spot in the Mothers 996 Cup earlier in the season and he was stoked with the result.
McLennan did the first stint, one that proved challenging. "There were a few curve balls. I had to pit when a tyre got cut and then I got a drivethrough penalty. Then I spun after I got a little impatient when we were the first onto dry tyres. I went off the line to pass traffic and got caught out. After those blemishes I had to drive at 11/10th's to get back on the lead lap."
McLennan and Innes battled with the Colin Corkery/Dean Perkins Falcon into the last hour until the Ford broke a crankshaft leaving the Porsche with a 7 lap lead.
Innes says, "it was a fuel strategy game. We double stinted and I tucked in behind the Falcon to save fuel." It was the Taupo driver's third attempt at the race but his first in a car that could challenge for overall honours. "I'm really rapt," he said.
Simon and Craig became friends after they had a great battle in the MINI Challenge Series two years ago. "We got to know each other halfway through the series and by the end we were good friends. Both our families get along well and it is cool to team up," said Innes.
McLennan has had a great debut season in the Porsche making the massive step from the MINI Challenge series to the ultra-fast Porsche with ease and going within a whisker of taking the Mothers Cup title. The 6-hour race gave him two new experiences. It was the longest race Simon has done and for the first time he was faced with the prospect of racing at night. "That was awesome. I loved it. I don't think those that haven't raced at night realise what it is like - things like trying to pick out the brake markers, the shift light shining in your face. It is a cool element!"
