ELF Cup brings the super (saloons) stars back to Canterbury
Thirteen days after Mark Osborne upset the favourites to win the New Zealand Super Saloon Championships at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway, high quality racing is returning to Canterbury.
Four out of the top five drivers in the country will line up for rounds four and five of the ELF Super Cup that creates history on Friday and Saturday night. For the first time, Canterbury is hosting a double header, spread over two venues.
Round four will be contested at Mag and Turbo Ruapuna Speedway, arguably the first time a full field of Super Saloons has graced the Templeton track in two decades, before round five revs up at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway on Saturday night.
Osborne, will be joined by national championship podium pals, Woodford Glen’s Richie Taylor (2nz) and Nelson’s Ian Burson (3nz) for the two shows that will go a long way to sorting the genuine contenders for the series.
Osborne is still coming to grips with the national champion tag, but said it has slowly started to sink in over the last two weeks.
“Once you see then number one go on the car, and you get ready for the first meeting as 1nz, it starts to seem more real,” he said.
Osborne said he, his family and pit crew have been blown away and humbled by the reaction from friends, supporters and fellow competitors over the last two weeks.
“It’s unreal, it really is. People ringing up, sending messages... it’s been awesome.
“The level of support has been greater than we would ever have imagined and wear so thankful to each and every one of them, it means so much to us (Osborne’s crew and family).”
Osborne said he is “pumped” for the ELF Cup double header and has no trouble finding motivation.
“I’m fired up for this weekend. With that 1nz comes a bit of extra attention and expectation so this is my time to get out there and perform for my sponsors, who showed a lot of faith in me.
“They are the ones that got me that number, without them I just couldn’t race at the level.”
The new national champion has no worries about taking on the Ruapuna track for the first time and his determined to prove in both rounds, that his national title was no fluke.
“I’ve been there a couple of times and really liked the look of the track but haven’t had the opportunity to race there before so I’m excited about giving it a go.
Ruapuna commentator and historian Allan “AJ” Batt said a telethon ran at the track, featured “seven or eight” cars in the early 1990s, but that aside, Super Saloons have not been seen in any great numbers since the early seventies.
He recalls a two day meeting, where there was an E49 Charger, Holden Torana’s and Kingwoods plus a Triumph Vitesse, a far cry from the machinery on show this weekend.
Osborne starts the weekend in third (640 points), just half a point behind Blenheim’s Paddy North (645.5) but runaway leader, Burson leads the standings with 737.
The top three have a slight advantage on the chasing group but that could change quickly.
Woodford Glen favourite Richie Taylor, currently fourth on 612.5 points has the two on his door after finishing runner up to Osborne in the national championships but he is aiming to be number one in the Elf series. This summer is the fourth edition of the series that started back in the 2009/10 season. Taylor finished runner up to Josh Boulton. The following summer Taylor went one better, beating home North (second) and Invercargill’s Mike Verdoner (third). Last season Taylor again finished second to Josh Boulton, underlining his credentials has one of the best in the mainland.
Verdoner, fifth on 587.5 points had a disastrous finals night a fortnight ago, but showed enough to suggest he is every chance to advance deeper into the top five.
Nelson’s Shane Carey knows all about a disastrous national championship weekend, the experienced driver was anything but is usual consistent self, failing to qualify, but Ruapuna and Woodford Glen are the perfect chance to atone and move forward from sixth (561.5).
The scoring system awards points for every driver a pass makes, plus feature and heat points, meaning the feature winner does not nessecerly bag the most points from the round, although in most rounds it is the feature winner who triumphs.
Outside of the feature, the pole shuffle is also a crowd favourite. The top eight point’s scorers race off in two lap sprints, with eighth taking on seventh first up. The winner stays on track to race the next driver, meaning eighth could advance to grid one if he or she wins every shuffle.
For those hungry for destruction over speed, the Kiwi Auto Spares Streetstock State of Origin and Kamikaze Derby to end the night should wet even the hungriest of appetites.
The State of Origin this year features four, six car teams going into provincial battle for the much sort after Origin mantle. Defending champions Dunedin have named a strong team but this year’s Origin is too competitive to pick a winner.
Racing starts at 7pm both nights.
Media: Mat Kermeen 1 March 2013
“Triple Treat presented by Kiwi Auto Spares”
This Saturday night race fans are in for a triple treat thanks to Kiwi Auto Spares. Hot on the heels of the New Zealand Super Saloon Championship is the Elf Super Cup series featuring the best Super Saloon drivers from around the South Island including New Zealand Champion Mark Osborne. Add 2NZ Richie Taylor and 3NZ Ian Burson and we have the best Super Saloon drivers in New Zealand set to go ‘wheel to wheel’ as they compete to stand atop the ‘Elf Super Cup’ podium. Nineteen drivers have entered this round and are set to race two heats over 15 laps to determine the top eight positions for the very exciting ‘Pole Shuffle’. The shuffle will see the driver in position eight race over 2 laps against the seventh placed driver with the winner progressing to race the sixth placed challenger and so on down to the top placed challenger. The challenger has lane choice for the shuffle. This will determine the top eight grid positions for the all in 25 lap, winner takes all feature!
Supporting the Super Saloon series is the Crash ‘n’ Bash Streetstock ‘State of Origin’. Four teams (including defending Origin champions Dunedin) are set to hit the track for teams racing entertainment - Streetstock style! In a change from last year each race will be ‘team vs. team’ with each team consisting of six cars. The draw to see who races who will be held during drivers briefing on Saturday night. Each team will race two teams races with the top two highest scoring teams after all four races running off for 1st and 2nd whilst the two remaining teams will race off for 3rd and 4th. Points will be awarded as follows – 1st place 100 points, 2nd 30, 3rd 20, 4th 15, 5th 10 and 6th place 5 points. Therefore it is important for each team to have as many cars finish as possible. However 1st place is the big points earner!
“Boss Motorsport set to hit the Glen”
The SuperStock class is set for a boost this Saturday night at the Glen with confirmation this morning that both Nick Fowler & Craig ‘The Boss’ Boote will be racing on Saturday night.
Fowler had his first run in the Ex Stan Hickey, Ford powered Gordge at Nelson’s Top of the South Speedway this past weekend recording an impressive two wins and a second placing.
Team owner Craig Boote is keen to get both cars on the track at once in an effort to promote the ‘Team Boss Motorsport’ brand including their valued sponsors. Further to Boss Motorsport’s appearance
Leech Motorsport have also confirmed their intention to race this weekend in the SuperStock class. Three of their cars have been converted to SuperStock spec’s in preparation for next season’s plans.
At this stage it is envisaged that three SuperStocks will run out of the Leech Motorsport stable, one brand new car with a Midwest/CHS Toyota whilst engine packages for the other two cars are still being investigated.
Obviously this is a welcome boost to the SuperStock class this weekend. However looking forward and with confirmation from Leech Motorsport of their plans to race SuperStocks full time next season, it is a good sign that we will see a resurgence in this class.
Finishing the night off is the crazy Kiwi Auto Spares “Kamikaze Derby”. The winner of the derby will be the last car going!
State of Origin Teams:
Christchurch: 8C Colin Robinson, 9C James Robinson, 19C Chris Leigh, 62C Dave McSherry, 63C Steve Jackson, 86C Shane Chapman
Dunedin: 4D Toby McLenaghan, 7D Paul Simon, 12D Kelly Campbell, 48D Nigel Anderton, 77D Brian Nicolau, 661D Russell Stewart
Invercargill: 8i Aaron Borthwick, 25i Phil Johnston, 27i Peter Knight, Cody McCarrison, 21C Daniel McNally, 32C Levi Anngow
Select: 10C James Carroll, 18C Steve Lennon, 34C Pat Anngow, 47E Colin Buschl, 57C Shane Pedley, 59D Benji Smail
|
Lottery Available Trackside - WIN $$$ |
Date |
Ticket |
Amount |
Claimed |
Meeting 16 |
#1411 |
$1255 |
CLAIMED |
Osborne continues dynamic form
Mark Osborne had an old saying on his mind before the weekend. “You’re only as good as your last race.”
Osborne said during the buildup to rounds four and five of the ELF Cup South Island super saloon series - he wanted to prove his victory at the New Zealand Championships at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway two weeks previous, was no fluke.
Box ticked.
Osborne now leads the series after winning the features at both rounds of the Canterbury double header - the first time two rounds had been contested in the city and the first time the series had been raced at Mag and Turbo Ruapuna Speedway.
Osborne cruised to victory on Friday night at Ruapuna after main challenges Ian Burson, Richie Taylor, Dennis Bolt and Paddy North retired to the infield. Mike Verdoner tried everything - but despite being impressive could not catch Osborne. Kane Lawson claimed a well deserved third, setting a new lap record in the progress.
Burson (957.5 points) still held a slim 35.5 lead over Osborne (922) after round four. But, the new national champion was brimming with confidence back on his home track and at the scene of his New Zealand championship heroics two weeks previous.
If the rest of the field were worried, they had good reason to be, Osborne was the star of the show all night long at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen on Saturday night.
He quickly found the front from grid four and scorched away to a convincing victory in the first qualifying heat over national championship podium pals, Ian Burson and Richie Taylor. North finished fourth and Dion McMurdo drove a fantastic race for fifth. Taylor and Verdoner had made the most passes, six a piece while Lawson had been the biggest disappointment, finishing in the last bunch after failing to move forward from a rear grid.
Heat one non finishes Trevor Elliot and Mark Vincent failed to make the line up for heat two that gave Lawson a chance at redemption from the front row and Osborne a challenge from grid 15.
Lawson jumped to an early lead from Barry Redpath who was hugely improved in heat two but the big names were on the charge. Verdoner was on a mission, powering his way to the lead from grid six. Burson was making good progress around the outside of the field until he made contact with Gavin Hill, slowing both drivers and for Burson bringing longer lasting concequenses.
Despite continuing with only minimal damage, it would later become known that Burson dislocated his thumb in the incident.
If Verdoner’s drive to beat Lawson home was great, Osborne’s effort to climb to third was simply outstanding. Driving around the outside or weaving his way through the inside, Osborne looked a class above.
Not surprisingly the national champion topped the points and after no major moves were made in the pole shuffle, he lined up on the front row for the feature alongside Verdoner with Burson and Taylor on the second row. Anyone further back was at long odds.
Osborne jumped to the lead from Verdoner who looked likely before spinning to the back of the pack, promoting Burson to second. The Nelson ace, challenged Osborne for a large part of the race but when the pair hit lap traffic, Osborne turned up the heat, big time. He did get the rub of the green while Burson was checked in the running and there was an injury for Burson but it is hard to imagine anyone could have bet Osborne. He showed silky skills in the traffic, squeezing through gaps that seemed almost nonexistent and doing it cleanly and fairly.
His precession passing, at times three wide, was undoubtedly the key to success and yet again, a hit with the massive crowd.
Burson clung on for second over Taylor, North and Lawson.
Osborne’s second feature win in as many nights, elevated him to an overall series led with 1204 points, five ahead of Burson (1199). Verdoner has progressed into third on 1068 points with Taylor (983.5) and North (981.5) making up the top five.
The final two rounds will be contested in Cromwell on Friday, March 15 and the following night in Dunedin.
