Foxton racing driver Peter Rees claimed his fourth New Zealand Stockcar Championship in Rotorua last night.
Rees swapped his 2NZ plates for the 1NZ in front of about 8000 spectators, after a spectacular crash and bash final at SG Equipment Paradise Valley Raceway last night.
Going into the three-race final, Rees was tied for fifth with Rotorua's Mark Costello on 42 points, with Jordan Dare leading the top six with 56 points.
With Dare winning the first two races, all he had to do was finish the race to claim the title. However, as any avid speedway fan will tell you, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to stockcars. Dare and Rees started the race sitting on 20 and 11 respectively on the grid.
Right from the start it appeared Dare had a target on his back with cars coming at him like kamikaze fighters. The Palmerston North driver found it difficult throughout the race. Costello who started at four on the grid got away to a clean start and raced out to an early lead giving Rotorua fans some early hope but with several Palmerston North drivers in the 28 strong field, Costello soon found himself pinned up against a wall or shunted off the track to drop off the pace. It appeared to be what Rees was waiting for and he catapulted himself to the front of the field with speed, strength and tactical sense.