Lower Hutt's Ben Harford put himself in the frame for the Toyota Racing Series international title when he won the first race for the series at this weekend's A1GP race meeting at Taupo.
Harford and Aucklander Matt Halliday shared poll after the pair notched up the first everequal-fastest TRS qualifying performance.
They fought side by side off the start line and into the first corner at Taupo, but their rivalry was interrupted from an unexpected quarter by Nathan Antunes.
The Australian driver made his best-ever start in the series from fourth place alongside Dominic Storey, surging into second overall behind Harford as the field emerged from the first corner and into the infield sector.
Antunes held out a charging Halliday for four laps of the ten lap race, allowing Harford to gain a handy early lead before a gear shift issue sent him to third and then to the rear of the field and into pit lane.
Rising star Dominic Storey was third, Michael Burdett fourth with Wanganui's Earl Bamber looking for a way past.
Series leader Andy Knight had posted two unspectacular qualifying results, eighth and fifth, and was climbing through the order as the race progressed.
Lady Wigram Trophy winner Earl Bamber passed Burdett and closed in on Storey, then on the seventh lap, Dominic Storey went off on the left hand corner leading into the start-finish straight , and in the confusion Bamber pounced to take third place.
Storey rejoined in fifth pace, but his race would end in this position, unable to challenge Michael Burdett for fourth.
The chequered flag saw Harford take the win almost half a second ahead of Halliday who had posted fastest race lap time of 1:25.392.
Matt Halliday did not qualify in the second session after a hole was found in his car's radiator, meaning he starts from the back of the grid for the second TRS ten-lap race, set to run at 5:25 this afternoon.
Dominic Storey has pole, with Ben Harford alongside. The second row comprises Michael Burdett and Earl Bamber.
