Defending champion Chris Cowling of Tauranga is handily placed in third position after the opening rounds of the DHL South Island Speed Week series.Photo/Colin Smith
Defending champion Chris Cowling of Tauranga is handily placed in third position after the opening rounds of the DHL South Island Speed Week series.Photo/Colin Smith
Baypark saloon car racers are positioned in three of the top five places after a rain-shortened opening weekend in the DHL South Island Speed Week series.
The series began on Friday night in Blenheim with defending champion Chris Cowling (Tauranga) taking the feature race ahead of Blenheim's Paddy North andBaypark racer Chris Taylor (Tokoroa).
The series continued on Saturday at Woodford Glen near Christchurch but Sunday's Greymouth event was rained out. Woodford Glen honours went to former Baypark racer Shane McIntyre - who now bases his racing campaign and Hypermac chassis operation in Cromwell - with North again taking second place to gain the series lead and Cromwell's Daryl Ainsley came in third.
Taylor was fourth in the feature race, Steve Cowling finished sixth and Chris Cowling made up ground after a non-finish in his second heat to drive from grid 14 to eighth place.
Overall points after two rounds - which are based on heat race and feature event positions plus bonus "passing points" - have North in front on 547.5 points, ahead of Taylor on 505.5. Chris Cowling is in third place with 494.5 ahead of Ainsley on 493. With a fifth and sixth in the first two rounds Steve Cowling is fifth on 476 and McIntyre is next with 464.
Baypark racer Dan Corrin didn't finish the Woodford Glen feature - after qualifying in fourth position - can be found at 12th overall.
Four rounds remain with the schedule taking the touring 22-car series to Invercargill on Wednesday night, Dunedin on Thursday, Cromwell on Friday and Ashburton on Saturday.
