Home track advantage could be crucial at Eastland Group Raceway

New Zealand champion Ethan Cook won it from pole position and older brother Daniel was second from 12th spot on the grid. 2017 file picture

THE Speedweek saloon car championships will tear up the Eastland Group Raceway track tomorrow night and Gisborne’s Daniel and Ethan Cook will be out to make the most of their home-track advantage.

The 20-car field for the ChemWash-sponsored event in Gisborne includes cars from all over the North Island.

The Holden Trade Club Saloon Speedweek series started in Stratford on Boxing Day, moved on to Palmerston North yesterday and will be in Napier tonight.

After two rounds, Ethan Cook (76G) lies in fourth place on 210 points. Elder brother Daniel (77G) is 15th on 101.

Daniel Hinton (46S), from Stratford, leads the series on 230 points, ahead of Paddy North (2NZ) on 223 and Thomas Korff (16S) on 220.

Ethan Cook scored two fourths and a fifth in Round 1 in Stratford. In Palmerston North last night, he had a couple of high placings and finished fourth in the final. His outside-lane driving paid off again last night.

Daniel Cook had a tough night, with a roll-over in the top-10 shootout.

“I won two rounds of the shootout but in the third I went round the outside of a guy and he clipped me,” he said.

“My car rolled at least three times. I’m not injured, just a bit sore, but the car needs some work today.

“It will be touch and go if I can race in Napier tonight. But we should be OK for Gisborne tomorrow.”

Gisborne Speedway Club president Grant MacGregor said the series was last here at least four years ago.

“It is great to have them back and we look forward to some really fast racing.”

The Outlaw minisprint series will be the other big drawcard.

“We expect 18 cars here from all over the island,” MacGregor said.

“They joined the saloon series in Palmerston North last night and will follow it through to Huntly.

“We are talking about midget-chassis cars with automotive four-cyclinder engines and a wing on top.

“They are capable of 100 kilometres an hour plus, so they will be flying round our banked track.”

MacGregor said the last time the track hosted the class was about 10 years ago.

“They are an open-wheel class and with that many in the field you can expect exciting racing.”

The support programme includes production saloons.

“Tomorrow night they get a chance to gear up for the New Zealand Production Saloon Grand Prix in Gisborne on January 13,” MacGregor said.

“There will be sidecars, too, preparing for their grand prix here on the same night.”

He had his fingers crossed about the weather. If it was doubtful, a decision on going ahead with the meeting would be left until the last minute, he said.

“We will do our utmost to run this meeting.”

Gates open from 6pm, and the first race will start at 7pm.

• The Gisborne Gladiators will be at Waikaraka Raceway in Auckland tomorrow night in an attempt to regain the New Zealand teams title.

The team will be Peter (10G) and Ethan Rees (127G), James Clarke (29G), Mason O’Dwyer (99G) and Jason Lovell (67G). Mike Herbert (52G) will be the standby driver.

MacGregor said it was a “very strong” team with a good blend of youth and experience.

A dozen teams from all over New Zealand will compete for the title.