Gibson fades after strong start

Wanganui expat driver Matt Gibson picked up a podium placing but finished off the pace in his remaining races at the fourth round of the Toyota Finance 86 Championship at Teretonga at the weekend.

Competing during the Summer Fuel Festival, it was the first time the Toyota 86 cars had driven on this track and Gibson's Lighting Plus team said he was revelling in the fast and flowing layout after coming third in the 10-lap Race 1 on Saturday.

Gibson finished 1.2 seconds behind winner Nick Cassidy and his Auckland City Toyota teammate Tom Alexander, of Christchurch.

But in the seven-car field for Sunday morning's second race, Gibson finished at the back of the pack, 14 seconds behind winner Alexander, who was followed home by Wellington's Jamie McNee and then Cassidy as the Auckland City team continued to dominate.

In the 15-lap third race that afternoon, Alexander stamped his mark as the only South Islander in the field by winning again, followed by Cassidy and Albany's Ash Blewett.

Gibson finished sixth, seven seconds behind Alexander.

His efforts still moved him up into fourth overall in the series over teenager Marcus Armstrong, who did not contest the round, with Callum Quin coming up to fifth overall.

With two rounds left, Gibson's 567 points is still well behind the top three, with Blewett sitting on 680 while the title will be fought out between McNee (732) and Alexander (750) after the Cantabrian moved ahead of the Wellingtonian over the two South Island rounds.

The next round is at Manfeild, February 14-15, before the series finishes at Hampton Downs, February 28-March 1.