“It’s just unreal. It means the world to me and it was so good to do it on what I still consider to be my home track. Gisborne is where it all started for me.”
Corrin jumped on his 24M car roof and pumped his fists in the air shortly after doing a lap of honour with the chequered flag.
In a trackside interview he paid tribute to parents Roger and Therese for their ongoing and vital support.
Roger Corrin said his son had been trying to win the title for a while and it was “pretty cool” to see him finally do it. “He was very determined — it’s all he’s thought about for the last month.”
Corrin dominated the 18-car, 20-lap final race that decided the championship. From grid 2, he got the jump at the start and led throughout to win from hard-charging young Southlander Peter Dickson (11T) from Cromwell, who had had two wins in the three races that decided grid positions for the final.
“We knew Peter was going fast so we changed a couple of things in the car and I drove it a bit differently . . . it paid off,” Corrin said.
“I came here to try and get 1NZ but if you cannot do that then there is nothing wrong with 2NZ,” said Dickson.
Mount Maunganui driver Michelle Wymer (75M) had a superb drive to take third. The Herald understands she is the first woman to make the podium in the NZ saloon champs.
Gisborne’s Daniel Cook (77G) qualified third on the start grid for the final and held that position for five or six laps until he went slightly off line in turn four and was passed by two cars. He finished a highly creditable fifth, which he was happy with.
“I made a mistake in that final and it cost me, but I am still rapt with the result. It’s a pretty cool feeling and my car was the oldest in the final, so the old girl can still go alright,” Cook said.
Younger brother Ethan (76G) was 10th.
“I had a hard run in the heats tonight but after starting 14th on the grid in the final I managed to make up a few places, and to finish 10th in my first year feels good,” said the rookie driver.
Gisborne’s other finalist, Dave Moorcroft, had to pull off the track during the final and did not finish.
In the support programme the Sam’s Upholstery Services Stockcar Classic was won by Brett Lloyd (92G) from Jason Lovell (67G) and Gemma Palmer of Hawke’s Bay.
Hamish Moore (16G) was a standout again in the youth ministocks and Aaron Brown (5G) and Ben McArthur (8G) continued their bumper-to-bumper duels in the streetstocks.
Gisborne Speedway club president Grant MacGregor said it was an “awesome” meeting.
“We couldn’t be happier. This was a brilliant meeting with the weather, the crowd, the work of the officials and, of course, the great racing. It all flowed for us and we hugely appreciate the support shown by the public on both nights.”
Results in tomorrow’s Herald
