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Everybody deserves a second chance and tonight 46 Super Stock drivers get theirs’.
Seven days on from the New Zealand Home Loans, New Zealand Super Stock Championships in Nelson, some of the best drivers in the country will again rub bumpers for a national crown. The Leech Drainage, New Zealand Super Stock Grand Prix does not hold the same status as the national championship but, it is not far of it either. Widely acknowledged as the second biggest individual championship in the grade. Many big names have won it in the past, and many big names are here at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway to win it this weekend. The Grand Prix is a second chance for those that did not perform in Nelson but it is also a second chance to get even. During the third heat on qualifying night and the third heat of the finals, many drivers had their chances smashed out from under them. Some top drivers on the verge of qualifying and so to, on the verge of winning the championship were hit hard into or up the wall. Drivers that did not have enough points to qualify or win the championship, were only too happy to end the night for other drivers by using their bumper to smash the opposition out of contention. For the victims, this weekend is a chance for pay back. A chance to hopefully, turn the tables and end the Grand Prix hopes of the very drivers that did the same to them last weekend. A chance at revenge, a chance to smash those driver's up the wall and maybe onto their roof. Last week’s big winner and brand new national champion Shane Penn will be sporting the 1NZ number that is reserved for the national champion and two young Nelson drivers’ have also had a number change. Dale McKenzie and Thomas Stanaway both produced the highlight of their young careers to date, on their home track, finishing second and third respectively. McKenzie will be racing with the 2NZ number and Stanaway the 3NZ. The presence of these three drivers shows the quality of this weekend's strong field that also includes former national champions Wayne Hemi, Simon Joblin, Craig Boote and local Malcolm Ngatai, plus a whole host of other winning chances. Keep a close eye on father and son pairing, Scott and Jack Miers of Palmerston North, Rotorua’s Ross Ashby, Hemi, Boote and all three Joblin brothers Adam, Scott and Simon who should all be in the thick of the action. Hard and fast racing is a given, when the New Zealand Grand Prix is contested, but there will also be plenty of hard hitting action. Tonight’s qualifying will feature two groups of 23 drivers racing three heats each. The top 12 points scorers in each of the AmPro and Koken groups will advance straight through to Saturday’s finals. Two further drivers will be added from a last chance repercharge that Woodford Glen will attempt to conduct immediately after tonight’s finals. The timing of the repercharge is subject to change and may be raced on Saturday if necessary. Racing starts at 7pm, pit area access closes to the public at 6.30pm. Big crowds are expected, especially on Saturday so be there early to get the best seats in the house. Other grades racing include, Friday: A Grades/Saloons, Modifieds, Ministocks and Production Saloons. Saturday: Super Saloons, Streetstocks, A Grades/Saloons and Production Saloons. |
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