Battle on for 1NZ,Gisborne drivers stepping up,‘It’s going to be a very special couple of nights’

Local push: Gisborne’s 16-strong home-track challenge at the New Zealand stockcar championships includes (from left) Jonny Morley, Dylan Pickering and Jason Lovell. Group qualifying racing is at Eastland Group Raceway tomorrow night and finals are on Saturday night. Gisborne last hosted the nationals in the 2003-2004 season, with Rotorua’s Keith Spanhake winning. Picture by Liam Clayton

Eastland Group Raceway hosts the biggest speedway event staged in Gisborne this weekend as 159 drivers fight for the right to wear 1NZ on their car for a year.

A battle royal is expected in Saturday night’s three-heat final series of the New Zealand stockcar championships but first the drivers have to get through qualifying tomorrow night.

The field has been divided into six groups — Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Purple. Each group has three accumulated points races tomorrow night. The top four from each group advance to Saturday’s finals.

The remaining cars contest two repechages on Saturday night, and six from those races will make up the 30-car field for the finals series.

“While we expect exciting and hard-hitting racing in qualifying, finals night will be something else,” said Gisborne Speedway Club president MacGregor.

“Our club has waited a long time to get this championship here and excitement levels are through the roof. It’s going to be a very special couple of nights.”

Current 1NZ Josh Prentice, from Palmerston North, is defending the title while 2NZ Dion Mooney, from Whanganui, is out to climb one step higher.

“Both will probably be marked men tomorrow night, certainly in the finals if they get that far,” said MacGregor.

The 16 Gisborne drivers in the field will pose plenty of problems for the visitors.

“They are well used to our banked track. If you get side-on you can be in the wall in a flash and the local drivers know that well.”

Five-time New Zealand title winner Peter Rees (in his 10G car) and Ethan Rees (127G), of Foxton-based Rees Race Cars, will spearhead the Gisborne attack.

“Both of them have raced really well on our track this season and must be contenders for the title,” MacGregor said.

“Among the other Gizzy guys, you’ve got the likes of Mason O’Dwyer (99G), definitely our most improved this season.

“Jason Lovell (67G), Willie McClune (61G) and Dylan Pickering (56G) are all capable of taking the title, and when James Kirk (31G) goes out in a new car, anything can happen.

Gisborne drivers stepping up

“Gisborne looks good for the podium, maybe even the top spot,” MacGregor said.

Peter Rees said the Gisborne stockcars class had stepped up in the past three years.

“The machinery is faster, it looks classier and the guys are driving well.

“It’s really cool there’s 16 cars from Gisborne this weekend. There wouldn’t have been that many three years ago.”

Rees said he was feeling 100 percent after getting over an illness.

“Ethan is as keen as always. We’re both looking forward to getting amongst it.”

Mayor Meng Foon will officially open the championships tomorrow night after a grand parade of cars scheduled to start at 5.15pm.

There is a practice at the track from 2pm to 4pm this afternoon and a meet-and-greet session at Gisborne-Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club from 6pm to 8pm.

The cars will be scrutineered between 8.45am and 2.45pm tomorrow at the Railway Reserve in Grey Street.

“The public are welcome to go along to the reserve and look the cars over,” MacGregor said.

There will be no support programme tomorrow night. It will be non-stop stockcar action.

On Saturday night, up to a dozen saloons will be out on the track.

“This is a huge weekend for our club and we welcome all the visiting drivers, their crews and supporters to the city,” MacGregor said. “We hope everyone has a great weekend.”