A relative newcomer to the Western Springs speedway arena has emerged as the star of the international midget car events this summer.
Andrew Grant, a former national junior rally champion who began his oval track career three years ago, has won both the international feature races over the rain-interrupted holiday season.
He followed up his Boxing Night success with a last-gasp victory in the Unitec 30-lap World Derby.
Running in third spot, he seized a chance to race for the lead when a stoppage with two laps to go handicapped the leader, American Aaron Fike.
When the race restarted, Grant immediately made decisive passes on second-placed Carl Worboys and then Fike to grab the lead and secure the biggest success of his career.
Fike attempted to repass Grant on the final lap, but got out of shape in one of the deep ruts and spun to the infield.
While Grant celebrated, many other teams were counting the cost of damaged cars from the incident- packed event.
The 30-lapper took a heavy toll, with Mark Browne, Nelson visitor Nevil Basalaj, Shayne Alach, Graham Standring and Jim Clark all going out in heavy flips.
Alach and Standring are making repairs in readiness for the second round of the US-New Zealand test series tomorrow, while team-mate Matt Thompson is another with problems to solve after being sidelined with motor trouble.
New Zealand lead the test series 64-41 after three races. The hopes of Team USA were dented when Brice Kenyon's car suffered oil pump problems in the first race.
The New Zealanders grabbed the initiative in the second race, with Thompson, captain Michael Kendall, Alach and Standring sweeping the top four places.
The test series finishes tomorrow night.
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