Motorsport: V8 title chase goes to the last race

Kayne Scott forces his way through the field to win the last race. Photo / Dean Purcell

The season-ending New Zealand Motorsport championships at Pukekohe saw Kayne Scott claim bragging rights in the premier BNTV8 series.

John McIntyre arrived at the Auckland circuit with a 38-point advantage over Scott knowing he just had to follow him home in each of the three races to claim a record, third consecutive V8 title.

It wasn't to be. McIntyre played a conservative game that came unstuck when Scott blitzed the field in the reverse grid third race to take the win.

McIntyre could manage only sixth and thus lost the championship by nine points. Craig Baird, in his first New Zealand V8 series, finished third.

"Reverse grid races are like that. If you don't go for it from the start and just do it, you're not going to get anywhere," said Scott.

"I was coping with it all weekend about not rubbing wheels so I decided to just go and have a go. I didn't know I had won the championship until the last lap when the crew told me on the radio."

On Saturday, Angus Fogg grabbed the first race by the scruff of the neck, forcing Baird to play follow-the-leader. That was until he made a mistake going into the hairpin letting Baird snatch the lead.

Fogg gave Baird a monster tap coming over Ford Mountain, forcing his car into a big slide, which Baird saved to finish second.

After a steward's inquiry, Fogg was pinged for bad driving behaviour and dumped down to 16th and Baird given the win. It was steady as you go for the majority of race two with Baird taking early control of the field with Booth in second, Scott back in third and McIntyre just behind with his championship lead cut to 21 points ahead of race three. Not enough to save the day, as it transpired.

Pulling double duty again, Baird's inevitable march towards yet another Porsche title - his seventh - continued when he won all three races. Baird's total for the series was an impressive 12 wins from 18 races.

Perennial season bridesmaid David Reynolds finished second in the championship with Daniel Gaunt third.

Mitch Cunningham took a Steady Eddie approach towards the Toyota Racing Series championship and duly clinched the title after the second race yesterday. He spun on the last lap to finish last but had enough points to win the series.

It was Michael Burdett, who has had an up and down season, who provided the entertainment. After winning the first two races, he had a spectacular off in the third, appearing to almost break the car in half coming on to the front straight. In the end, Sam MacNeill gained the runner-up spot in the championship with Burdett in third.

As always, the Formula Fords produced some of the best and closest racing with Richie Stanaway the eventual series winner, Mitchell Evans in second and Stefan Webling third.

Craig Innes took out the Mini Challenge championship with Simon McLennan second and Gavin Yortt third.

Cody McMaster won in the Suzukis, Gene Rollinson the two-wheel trophy and Brady Kennett the four-wheel drive cup.