Ethan Cook has been driving the wheels off his car on his home MTF Gisborne Awapuni Speedway track and continued that at the New Zealand champs at Stratford at the weekend. Photo / Angus Bodle
Ethan Cook has been driving the wheels off his car on his home MTF Gisborne Awapuni Speedway track and continued that at the New Zealand champs at Stratford at the weekend. Photo / Angus Bodle
For the second time in his speedway career, Ethan Cook got to carry the chequered flag around the track as New Zealand saloon car champion. Photo / Loaded Glass Photography
“We won the first heat and broke the lap record at Stratford along the way,” Ethan Cook said.
He went from No 5 on the grid to do it.
“In the second qualifying heat I went from 11th and finished second, and in the third heat I started from grid two and won it.”
Cook went into finals night on Saturday as the top qualifier.
The finals were held over three 20-lap races, with the title decided on points.
“It was really good racing in the final, 20 cars all going for it, and the track provided for good passing,” Cook said.
In Race 1, he won from Grid 3 after a good battle with home-track man Bradley Korff.
Cooked started Race 2 in Grid 13.
“It was a tough race that one, but I managed to get through the field to finish fifth.”
Cook had a Grid 16 start for Race 3 and once again he came through the field to take second place.
“That was the race that won it for us,” he said. “It’s a pretty awesome feeling to take out this championship again. Especially to go up against the other car manufacturers and to come out on top.”
The Cook brothers build their Vulcan chassis in Gisborne.
The second- and third-placegetters at Stratford drive cars built by the Cowling brothers, legends in saloon car racing in New Zealand.
“The car was amazing both nights. It drove beautifully,” Cook said.
Ethan Cook and the car he drove to victory in the New Zealand saloon car championship in Stratford – swapping 2NZ for 1NZ.
His win was heralded on the Stratford Speedway Facebook site.
“Congratulations Ethan Cook on winning the Mufflers NZ New Zealand Saloon Championship, to Jarred Fletcher in second place and our own club driver Bradley Korff in third.”
A lot of comments were also made on the Awapuni Speedway Facebook page.
“Congratulations Team Cook – what a great result. Dougie [the late Doug Walsh] will be rapt. I recall him telling me when you first started out at the track – this young fella is going places if he sticks behind the wheel – well done.
“Awesome result team, well deserved and congrats Ethan!”
Gisborne Speedway Club president Sam Hughes said Cook’s win was an awesome result for the club.
“Great to see it happen for our small club and we heartily congratulate Ethan on his performance and the outstanding result.”
Cook won his first New Zealand saloon car title at Meeanee Speedway in Hawke’s Bay in the 2018-19 season.
He will be racing his 1NZ machine in the Pit Stop-sponsored Phil Walsh Memorial and Bruce Ellmers Memorial for saloons at Awapuni Speedway this Saturday.
