Aucklander Ben Harding (24a) is the first night points leader in the NZ Super Saloon Car Championship, winning two of his three heats on Friday night at Baypark Speedway.
Baypark Speedway 2024-25 season
Meeting number 7 review,
NZ Super Saloon Car Championship and Bay Piston Cup, Friday February 14, 2025
Auckland racer Ben Harding made a clear statement in the early stages of qualifying for the 2025 New Zealand Super Saloon Car title at Baypark Speedway on Friday night.
After nine of the 15 qualifying heats, Harding sits atop the point standings with a third place and two wins to accumulate 58 points and build a 4-point advantage over Christchurch racer Kane Lawson.
“It’s only the first night but the car feels the best it’s ever done here,” says Harding.
Lawson looked strong all night posting a second, third and fourth from his three heats. Scott Hayward (Tauranga) is the best-placed Baypark driver in third spot on 53 points ahead of former champ Sam Waddell (Tauranga) on 52.
Kane Lawson (6c) of Christchurch made a strong first night effort and holds second place in the points rankings.
Hawke’s Bay racers Jason Long and Grant Flynn, along the Baypark duo of Garry Edwards (Waihi) and Damian Orr (Rotorua), are a four-way tie for fifth place on 51 points.
Another four-way tie with 50 points comprises defending champ Chris Cowling (Tauranga), former champ Mark Osborne (Christchurch), Peter Bengston (Palm Nth) and Craig Cardwell (Auckland).
Cowling however has the most favourable grids for the remaining heats with first and second row starts this evening.
Former champ Sam Waddell (2nz) and Manawatu racer Peter Bengston are well placed after the first three rounds of qualifying.
After the 15-heat system is completed this evening, the top-16 drivers advance to the 25-lap final with four more added to the tail of the field via two repechages.
The first night hard luck story belonged to former NZ champ Steve Flynn (Napier) who won his opening heat but suffered a loss of oil pressure immediately after the race, ending his night.
In a double-header of high powered V8 action, former NZ Sprint Car champion Daniel Thomas (Hamilton) was the big Friday night winner racing to victory in the 30-lap Bay Piston Cup feature.
Thomas hit the front early from a third row start. He controlled a couple of early restarts before a long green flag run to the finish with Hamilton’s Dean Brindle taking second ahead of fastest qualifier Dean Cooper (Taupo).
It was a winning return to the track after an almost nine-week break for Thomas.
“This year I took some time off racing to go camping and fishing with my kids,” says Thomas.
“I felt a bit rusty in the time trials, but the rest of the night the car was amazing.
“It was quite hard to read the track, and I was trying not to overdrive the car. I knew Dean [Brindle] would be close and when he showed his nose on the inside, I moved down to the middle in turn one and two but stayed up on the high-line in three and four.”
The first phase of the Predator 6 Shooter series was also completed with a couple of family battles at the head of the points standings after three heats.
Tauranga’s Luke McClymont leads with 23 points ahead of his cousin Josh McClymont on 20 while brothers Boyd and Luke Westbury are tied on 19 points. The series continues tonight with two dash races to set the grid positions for a 15-lap feature.
Racing resumes tonight at 6.30pm with the Super Saloons and 6 Shooters joined by the F2 Midgets.