Champion drive by Allan
Reigning champion Hugo Allan lucked in after a dramatic last-lap moment cost Ajay Giddy his maiden victory in the Bridgestone GR86 Championship feature race at Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon.
Giddy looked home and dry before he slowed as he lost fifth gear with one corner to go. Allan pounced for his second win of the series’ penultimate weekend, leaving the teenager and his team heartbroken.
“We had really strong pace, but Ajay did a great job,” says Allan, pictured above with Lee Zeltwanger.
“Our car was strong at the end. You have to take the points and wins when you can get them, and we’ll take that win any way after our start to the season.” A strong weekend overall also saw Allan take the round win.
Giddy made it home in second while Arthur Broughan had another strong run to claim third. White maintained his championship lead with fourth while a fine fifth for Zeltwanger was enough for him to claim the rookies’ title with a full round still to go, a huge achievement by the youngster.
The fastest lap of all in qualifying gave Giddy pole position for the 14-lap feature race – with White alongside – and he got a flyer to lead comfortably into turn one.
The teenager had already checked out to a one-second lead by lap four, which was packed with more action as Zeltwanger and Blincoe got ahead of Bethune in a great battle that track limits tested and cars pushed to the maximum.
Things settled down significantly from lap six. Giddy was doing everything to win and at halfway had several car lengths over Allan, the reigning champion right up there again after a strong weekend.
Giddy’s first win looked a certainty but fate – and fifth gear – had other ideas and the last few hundred metres of the race on March 1 were the cruellest of his Toyota racing career so far as he watched Allan sweep by. The championship now heads to Taupo on April 10 where the title will be decided in front of a Supercars packed house.
Rest of the weekend
Justin Allen put his extensive circuit knowledge and some great driving to good effect to win the reverse-grid race.
He held on to take a popular home win while Zach Blincoe made good inroads into championship leader Chris White’s lead with a fine second place. Arthur Broughan pressured team-mate Blincoe throughout, but had to settle for third.
Sunday morning, though, was all about pay back for Allen after a challenging Saturday. He says: “There was some great racing yesterday but I got damage which affected my race. This one’s for everyone, my family and sponsors. It’s great to give them a home win. There’s no other feeling like that.”
On Saturday, a fantastic first two corners gave Hugo Allan the lead in the first race at Manfeild and he never looked back as he raced away to an impressive win.
Allan’s win for iMac Racing – on his first visit to the Manawatu circuit – edged him closer to the leaders in the points table but a solid second for championship leader White increased his advantage over Blincoe. Josh Bethune rounded out the podium finishers after a solid drive.
“The car was strong and it was my first time racing here, so to win was a bit special,” says Allan. “The boys kicked me into gear after a start to the season which wasn’t ideal. But the car is also performing better than it ever has.”
