Motorsport: Kiwi seeking Storey-book ending at Highlands track

Storey looked certain to win at Hampton Downs a fortnight ago but a botched final pit stop ruined his challenge.

The final round of the Australian GT Championship is at Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell this weekend with Kiwi Dominic Storey, 27, in the running for one of two championships on offer.

The Mercedes driver is fourth in the endurance championship but within striking distance of the title if he can win the finale.

Storey looked certain to win at Hampton Downs a fortnight ago but a botched final pit stop ruined his challenge. He will be chasing the Grant Denyer/Nathan Morcom McLaren. They lead the endurance championship.

Klark Quinn holds a slender sprint championship lead over Morcom with Hampton Downs winner Roger Lago third.

Supercars championship leader Shane van Gisbergen nominated the picturesque Highlands track as his favourite circuit anywhere in the world - ahead of legendary tracks such as the Nurburgring and Spa.

"I did not pay him to say that - that is his opinion and I agree with him," track and series owner Tony Quinn said.

"Highlands is beautiful - of all the tracks we go to Highlands is the nicest. It is technical and busy but it is a cool track.

"It was built not as an FIA race track but it was built as a challenge for the members of Highlands and then we got an FIA licence because it was so good that they had to give it to us."

Practice is tomorrow with qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday. Dale Budge