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Tough racing at Under 23 Stockcar Champs

Wellington racer Josh Lockett utilised both skill and good luck to win the Under Twenty Three Stockcar Champs at Stratford Speedway on Saturday February 11th and will now have his name inscribed on the trophy among many once young drivers who have now become accomplished racers.  Lockett, who was one of only two competitors from Wellington stayed just off the radar in the first two races, coming home if third place in race one from a grid four start before running an exceptional race in race two and again coming home third but this time from grid twenty one.  In the third race, which mostly resembled a Demolition Derby and had only fourteen finishers, Lockett stayed out of trouble to come home in ninth place.  The ninth place finish and two third’s earnt him enough points to win the event outright with a point’s total of eighty seven, just one point clear of Palmerston North contracted driver Roydon Winstanley and Hawkes bay driver Brandon Symes who were both tied on eighty six.  Lockett was understandably happy with the win.  “It's been one of the events I've wanted to do ever since I started racing and to have my first crack at it and come away with the win I'm over the moon.  Bring on next year for one last crack at it and to defend the title” he said.  Symes and Winstanley faced each other in a four lap run off to determine the minor placings.   Symes poked Winstanley into the wall at the race start before successfully navigating a way past him for the next three laps when Wiinstanley was attempting to block him.  The on track result saw Symes win the run off to take second place overall with Winstanley third but that result was reversed by Speedway New Zealand officials when they relegated Symes for hitting his opponent after he had already crossed under the checkered flag.

The event was a case of close but not close enough for local racer Hamish Booker.  Booker, who has raced both Ministocks and Superstocks was driving Damien Hiestand’s car at the meeting and drove exceptionally well to finish the first race in second place from a grid seventeen start.  He then won race two from grid one and was leading the points heading into the third race.  After club mate Josh Perret stood on the brakes in front of the field at the third race start, Booker made up a huge amount of ground but was smashed out of contention when Wanganui driver Nathan Black launched him into the turn one concrete wall on lap two of the race, the impact causing both cars to become wedged together and eliminating both from the race.  Joshua Trott was the best placed Taranaki competitor and came home fourth overall.

Blair Luscombe successfully defended the Taranaki Modified Championship that he won for the first time last season.  Luscombe, who was quick all night, came home second in race one from a grid four start, made up good ground in race two to finish fifth from grid nine and then again finished second in race three from grid four to win the title by one point from recently crowned New Zealand champion Richard Pierce.  Shaun Bloeman and Farron Lowry were tied on equal points for third.  Lowry won the run off against Bloeman to determine who would stand on the third step of the podium but was relegated by Speedway New Zealand for blocking which meant that Bloeman grabbed the third spot.  Wellington driver Jonas England was impressively quick in the first race and passed initial leader Jason Kalin in the early stages to win the race, recording the fastest lap time of the night in the process of 14.29 seconds.  However, a bent steering arm in race two ensured that he didn’t make it on to the podium.

Duane Hickman won all three races to win the Midget Heritage Shield for the sixth time and continue the legacy of being the only competitor to ever have their name on the trophy.  Greg Jones was almost as quick as Hickman and placed second overall while Wanganui driver Brent Huijs was third.  Peter Huijs, also from Wanganui was impressive all night but suffered bad luck in the third race when he was caught in a tangle up after Jamie Goodlass rolled and broke his front axle, destroying his chances of a podium finish.

In the support class racing, wins in the Youth Ministock class were taken by Thomas Boniface, Hamish Edgecombe and Liam Wheelan, all three being first time winners.  Adult Ministock race wins went the way of Bradley Korff who won two races and Ella Sharpe while the Superstock races were won by Phil Ogle, Neville Nolly and Josh Walsh.