Flying start to T86 series

Toby Elmiger took his turn on the top step of the podium in the final race of round one of the Toyota 86 Trophy Series at Hampton Downs.

Nieko Scoles, arguably the fastest man across the whole weekend, had to settle for runner-up in a race that finished with the final four laps under the safety car.

Elmiger’s victory was his first in a Toyota 86. With Nathan Grammer winning the first race and Ajay Giddy the second, it meant three different winners at the first trophy’s first meeting.

Elmiger was rightly pleased to have held off Scoles in what’s already shaping up to be a closely fought contest over the next few weeks.

“It’s great to get that first win,” he says. “Like all of us, I want to win after a good race rather than under the safety car. But those first laps were great and the racing is very good. I’m looking norward to the next rounds.”

Riley Boswell led from pole position but Elmiger made a superb getaway from alongside him on the front row and within half a lap had his nose ahead. 

The close pack of 10 diced throughout the opening couple of laps and, on the third, Taylor Mitchell found a way past Boswell for third place. He was closely followed a few corners later by Grammer in what were the race’s two best passing manoeuvres.

The excitement, unfortunately, wasn’t set to last and it was Scoles who was perhaps worst affected by what was to come as he was shaping up to make a pass for the lead as the field sped into the fourth lap.

Heading into turn four – with the two leaders holding an advantage over the rest of the field – there was chaos further back.

Marcel Bartley was in the thick of the action. A bold attempt to pass Josh Hill down the inside turned the unlucky Right Karts by M2 Competition driver around.

Mark Mallard took to the grass to avoid contact and both managed to get going again. Bartley, though, had damaged his car and was stuck on the inside of the turn-four exit.

Time ran out to retrieve him and rest of the field took the chequered flag under the safety car with Elmiger winning ahead of Scoles, Giddy, Mitchell, Boswell, Grammer, Mitch Vye, Mallard and Hill.

Fifteen-year-old Ajay Giddy – one of the rising stars in New Zealand motorsport – secured his first win of the series in fine style on Sunday morning. He led from the go after making his second perfect start of the weekend. He held off a charging Scoles for victory.

Grammer took his first Toyota 86 win in fine style at Hampton Downs on Saturday afternoon, holding off a wave of attacks from Giddy and Scoles to take the chequered flag. 

The next round is from June 20-21 in Taupo. The June issue of Autofile magazine will profile all the drivers in this series. Click here to subscribe.