Crowd wowed at MTF Finance New Zealand stock car champs

The qualifying heats for the New Zealand stockcar championships produced some breathtaking action last night at the Eastland Group Raceway, like this moment when Hawke’s Bay’s Justin White (94B) took some flying lessons. Pictures by Liam Clayton

GISBORNE drivers Ethan Rees and Jonny Morley qualifed last night for the final of the MTF Finance New Zealand stock car championships at the Eastland Group Raceway and three others are in with a chance too.

Qualifying produced the best stock car action seen at the Gisborne Speedway Club’s track for many years last night and it thrilled the big crowd.

“What a start to the championships. The 18 heats rolled along perfectly and the drivers put on an awesome show,” said club president Grant McGregor.

“Congratulations to Ethan (127G) and Jonny (98G). They join 22 other drivers in tonight’s three race finals series.

“There are three other drivers, Mason O`Dwyer (99G), Dylan Pickering (56G) and Jason Lovell (67G), who have handy positions on the grids for tonight’s two repercharge races.”

A further three drivers from each of those repercharges will progress to the final series.

Rees was the top qualifier last night with three outstanding drives in his three heats.

“It sure feels great to be in the national final,” he said.

“It’s the first time I have made it that far in a stock car at the New Zealand champs and I feel good about tonight.

“The car’s going great and the track suits me.”

His father Peter Rees (11G) bowed out of the competition in a most unfortunate way in just his first heat.

Rees-senior was in third place when he came round turn four and straightened up, only to be clipped by another car.

His car spectacularly tipped onto its side and another car slammed into the underside of it, putting a big hole in the aluminium sump.

The vehicle could not be repaired and he was unable to continue in the competition.

A philosophical, five-times New Zealand champion said afterwards - “That’s motor sport.”

Jonny Morley produced a real dark-horse performance last night, racing in just his first season in a stock car.

“I’m just so thankful for all the help I’ve got, especially from my dad Brett.

“I’m pretty stoked to be in the final, but it’s not over till the final race tonight.

“It’s a bit nerve wracking. There will still be another 29 cars out there with me tonight in those finals races, but I’m looking forward to it.”

MacGregor said Morley was quite outstanding last night with a second, a third and another top ten result.

“We look forward to seeing how he goes in the finals,” MacGregor said.

The driver who won the national title when the event was last staged in Gisborne 14 years ago, Keith Spanhake from Rotorua (68R), has qualified for tonight’s finals.

Gisborne’s David Glassford (22G) was part of one of the best races of the night, where the lead changed hands five times between three cars, with paint-work between.

Glassford muscled his way into the front at one stage, then droped back a couple of places, before attacking again to get back in front and take the chequered flag.

Popular, regular visitor to the Gisborne track Kacey Cheetham (97K) from Rotorua, racing out of the Kihikihi track, was another to impress last night.

He will also race in the repercharges.

The two repercharges will run at 6.30pm tonight, followed by the finals series.

“There will be the three finals heats, where accumulated points will decide the New Zealand title,” MacGregor said.

“Then there will be two further tiers of racing for the next 60 cars, with perhaps some consulation races as well for the rest of what remains of the 144 car field.”

Saloons provide the support class tonight.

The gates to the speedway will open at 3pm.