Boxing Day family affair

IN THE FAMILY: Damon Rees was not to be outdone by father Tony winning the Suzuki Series F1 title, so he just went out and took the F2 prize in Whanganui on Monday.

While dad Tony was winning the Formula One Suzuki Series title, youngest son Damon was wrapping up the Formula Two/600 Supersport class on the streets of Whanganui on Monday.

The major prizes were first for both father and son in the Suzuki Series launched in 2006 with the final round always on Boxing Day at the famous Cemetery Circuit.

The closest F2 rival to 21-year-old Damon Rees, Wainuiomata's Shane Richardson, narrowly won the day at Whanganui, but Rees twice finished third, behind Richardson and Lower Hutt's Jay Lawrence, and this was sufficient for Rees to take the F2 crown by four points from Richardson, with Wellington's Rogan Chandler claiming third overall.

"This is a first major title win for me," said an elated Damon Rees.

"This is a massive confidence-booster for me ahead of the nationals."

Damon Rees didn't have an easy time of it at Whanganui after running off the track early in the second F2 race. But he fought back from last to clinch third place at the chequered flag, setting the fastest F2 time of the day in the process.

"I muttered a few swear words to myself when I made that mistake and just focussed on getting through the traffic as quickly as I could."

Meanwhile, the Rees family were also to the fore in the stand-alone Robert Holden Memorial feature race open to the 25 riders posting the fastest lap times throughout the day in F1, F2 and F3.

Patriarch Tony won the 10-lap event for the third consecutive year and seventh time in total, while fellow F1 contender and eldest son Mitch Rees finished 8th and Damon Rees 10th.

The trio will be a real force to be reckoned with in their various classes at the upcoming nationals.