Giants make it three on the trot

OVER THE MOON: The Gisborne Giants superstock team were over the moon on Saturday night when they won their third consecutive national championship title at the Waikaraka Park Speedway in Auckland. Ethan Rees (127G) drives his father Peter (at right) and Gary Davies around the track in a victory lap.

SPEEDWAY

THE Gisborne Giants’ third win on the trot in the national superstock teams championship at Waikaraka Park on Saturday night felt the biggest and best yet, team captain Peter Rees said.

The Giants team of Rees (2NZ), his son Ethan (127G), Gary Davies (31G), James Kirk (331G) and Jamie Hamilton (9G) beat the Palmerston North Panthers in the final at Waikaraka Park Speedway in Auckland.

“For various reasons it felt bigger and better than our previous two championship wins at Waikaraka Park,” Peter Rees said.

“It felt great to win again!”

The Giants lost to Hawke’s Bay in their first match in qualifying then defeated the Palmerston North Mustangs in their second match to score enough points for a spot in the semifinals.

“James (Kirk) came on in that Mustangs match and drove well for us,” Rees said.

“He is getting better every time out.”

The Giants faced the Hawke’s Bay team again in their semifinal.

“We lost a car in the qualifying match with them, and then they lost a car in the semifinal, and that made a difference both times,” Rees said.

He said the final against the Panthers could have gone either way for a while.

“But we all came through as a team and won comfortably really, with Ethan, Gary and me blocking, which allowed Jamie to cross the line first for us.”

Rees said yesterday he was just “a walking bruise” after four tough races.

Their cars were extensively damaged.

“But we won and that feels great.”

The Giants were managed again by Scott Ross, formerly of Gisborne and now of Napier.

Hamilton, who is from Christchurch but races superstocks for Gisborne, proved to be a revelation, Rees said.

“We were short of a driver and bringing Jamie in was a big call on my part. He had never done a superstock teams race in his life.

“But he delivered for us big time, did all four races and was a great member of the team.”

For James Kirk, the only Gisborne-based driver in the team, it was an honour to be part of it.

“I was so happy to be in there with such a great bunch of people. The team gelled so well.

“To be up on the podium with Peter and the boys and all those other good drivers from other clubs was special.”

Kirk will race in the superstock champion of champions with his Giants teammates and others at the Gisborne Speedway Club’s track on April 27.

The Giants’ win was the fourth New Zealand championship victory for the Gisborne Speedway Club this season, and the seventh New Zealand podium finish overall for Gisborne drivers.

Ethan Cook is 1NZ in the saloons and the NZ Grand Prix, and Dave Gooch is 1NZ in the production saloons.

In addition, Peter Rees is 2NZ in superstocks, Brenden Gooch is 2NZ in streetstocks, Crystal Peach is 3NZ in production saloons and the Gisborne Gladiators are 3NZ in the stockcar teams.

“The club congratulates the Giants on their victory,” club president Neil Gooch said.

“They worked superbly as a team.

“What a season the club is having!”