Motorsport: Course proves success

Ruakaka, home of the Street Sprint.

Northland Car Club's annual Ruakaka Street Sprint, sponsored by Stage 3 Ltd Z gas stations, ran with few flaws despite a new course setup this year.

A field of 35 cars took part on the day despite initial threats of rain and showers. However, the dull weather stayed away allowing drivers to maximise the potential of the new 1.9km course.

Ricky Grey won the event in his Mitsubishi Evolution III with a time of 1 minute, 29.74 seconds.

Grey was two-and-a-half seconds ahead of Clark proctor who entered the event in his V6 turbo-powered Mk 1 Escort.

Veteran driver Neil Johns placed third in his Porsche Cayman GTS with a time of 1 minute, 32.93 seconds.

The drivers weren't the only ones benefiting from the new course.

Spectators were treated to several viewing points which allowed them to see cars pass the same point four times per lap.

Northland Car Club's Alan Strong says the event was "a great success".

"There was a big variety of cars competing with most completing the course five times."