Cromie clinches GT4 crown

Nigel Cromie has won the GT4 class of the first Rodin Cars Super GT Series but was only awarded the title after his main rival copped a post-race penalty in the last action of the season.

Cromie, pictured, had finished fourth in the final round’s feature race at Taupo but was promoted to third after Stephen Harrison dropped from second to fourth when a five-second penalty was added to his time.

It meant Harrison not only missed out on a podium spot on March 27 but also the GT4 title as the move relegated him to second overall.

Cromie leapfrogged into top place and Grant Aitken, who won the decisive race, ended the four-round series in third.

Cromie, a rookie to circuit racing this season, says he is thrilled with the class win and coming into the campaign “didn’t really know where we would be”. 

“I certainly didn’t want to be in the way out there,” he adds. “But Sam McKenzie from McKenzie Motorsport did say I would be surprised as to how well I’d actually go.

“I think it wasn’t until after Highlands where I got a podium, and then the win at Ruapuna, that I thought we might actually go okay this season. Plus, I saw the size of the trophies and thought, ‘yeah, I’d like one of those’.

“I feel for Stephen, he was there or thereabouts every round, and it was a hard fight right until the end. I’m already looking forward to battling him again next season, I know he’ll come back strong.”

Standings in the Porsche class of the series remained unchanged after the Taupo round, with Martin Dippie taking out top honours, followed by Rob Steele and Paul Kelly respectively.

Final standings after four rounds

GT4 Class

1. Nigel Cromie, McLaren, 528 points
2. Stephen Harrison,  Aston Martin, 514pts
3. Grant Aitken, Porsche, 437pts
4. Shane Helms, Aston Martin, 428pts
5. Dave Cremer, McLaren, 397pts

Porsche class

1. Martin Dippie, 472 points
2. Rob Steele, 451pts
3. Paul Kelly, 430pts
4. Paul Southam, 351pts
5. Connor Adam, 331pts