The opening round of the IRC (Independent Race Classes) Series is complete and not even the Manawatu's unpredictable weather could dampen spirits at Manfeild Park over the weekend.
Manfeild is always a popular choice with drivers, so in welcoming in the new season of motorsport while the country is embroiled in the Rugby World Cup, the IRC classes put on a show for the steadfast crowds who braved the weather during two days of racing, and they weren't disappointed.
Nick Chester opened his GT1 account by making light work of the field in his heavily modified Holden V8 Supercar. Chester took pole position by well over two seconds, and won the first two of the weekend's races with ease, coming home in sixth place in the final handicap race, won by GT2 entrant Paul Bass.
Glenn Smith's Mitsubishi Evo 10 proved to be a dark horse for the weekend, with three overall podiums to not only lead the GT2 points, but also split the GT1 field ahead of the Taupo event.
The NZ Six racing was combined with an invitation class for the Manfeild event, boosting numbers to well over 20 cars. Super 6 class hotshoe Adam Newell dominated proceedings, while close in behind the door banging HQ Holdens did battle with Mike Dunn showing the edge.
Switching from the Pro 7 class for the new season, James Parker made an instant impression in SS2000 by taking pole position and two race wins in his striking Lucas Oils RX7. Antony Te Rito's consistent fourth, second and second placings keep the points close heading into the next round at Taupo.
Parker's departure from Pro 7 left class stalwarts Dean McMillan and Myles Fothergill to battle for victories in the Pro 7 Plus class. McMillan won two races but a DNF seriously dented his points haul.
In the Pro 7 class, Phil Kerr battled it out with Terry Loving, Bob Smith and series newcomer Matt Gibson - a former Suzuki Swift Scholarship winner. The pair were separated by just seven points after the three Manfeild races, with Loving leaving Manfeild with the championship lead.
The Pre 65 category proved last season to be a category where anyone has a shot at victory, and Manfeild proved that nothing has changed. Mike Johnston, Shane Hobman and Andrew Alexander shared victories; with Alexander leading the points.
The NZ Sportscar Racing were one of the standouts in numbers with close to 20 cars taking the starting lights, including the newly included Star Cars. The weekend battles swayed between John Mines and David Glasson, with Glasson coming out on top with two wins to Mines' one.
With the retirement of class legend Michael Shepherd at the close of last season, the Formula First racing was left to the young guns and Manfeild showed a return to the glory days of First racing with Matt Higham, Ryan Hellier, Kyle George and Rowan Shepherd - brother of Michael - battling for race wins.
Hellier took the race one victory with the top four covered at the line by just 1/10th of a second! Higham's wins in races two and three see him head to Taupo with a slender points gap over the chasing pack.
Defending Mini 7 champion Elliot Heron took three class wins from three in the Super Mini Challenge, while Steve Midgley took the Open class with two race victories and the championship lead.
A slightly lighter field in Bridgestone Porsche than in season's past didn't effect the quality of the racing, with returning champion Ian Hayr going right back into battle with Jeff Lowrey in the new vs. old battle. Hayr took two overall race victories with Kevin Etches leading home the field in the third.
The Manfeild round of the 2011/12 IRC Series is the first of a seven round championship held between October and April, with events also staged at Taupo, Hampton Downs and Pukekohe.
Round two of the championship at the Taupo Motorsport Park takes place on October 22-23.
