Johnson maintains pace for victory

Damian Johnson was quickest on both days and took out overall honours in his Mitsubishi VR4. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

Local driver Damian Johnson, in a Mitsubishi VR4, was overall winner of the Wanganui Car Club's premier hill climb event of the year last weekend.

In two days of timed runs, first on Western Line and then on a section of Brunswick Rd, Johnson had the fastest times on both days but only fractions of a second separated him from fellow Wanganui driver Alan Austin.

Fine weather guaranteed a dry surface and organisers started both days earlier to avoid the worst of the day's heat.

The hairpin on Brunswick Rd caused some challenges and the road had to be narrowed because of the sticky tarseal.

Results (all from Wanganui unless stated otherwise):

Class G: Johnson 1, Alan Groves (Subaru Impreza) Hutt City Car Club 2, Mark McGinniss (Subaru WRX) 3.

Class F: Mike Carrick (Triumph 2500PI) Wellington Triumph Club 1, David Penfold (BMW 2002) Manawatu 2, Dean Walford (Mazda RX7) 3.

Class E: Austin (Mazda RX7) 1, Matt Gaskin (Nissan Skyline) Wellington 2, Malcolm Ward (Holden Commodore) 3.

Class D: Allan Carter (Lancia Rally) Taihape 1.

Class C: Phil McQuoid (Ford Escort) 1, Stu Robertson (Ford Escort) 2.

Class B: Hanui Makea (Honda Civic) Hawke's Bay Car Club 1, John Gray (Toyota Corolla) 2, Andrew Thomas Toyota Corolla) Hutt Valley Car Club 3.