Triple X Motorsport’s Daniel Gaunt has further extended his points lead in the 2010/2011 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge with a second race win of the weekend at Pukekohe today (7 November). Concluding the opening weekend of the six round series, Gaunt in the Outlaws Bar MPD Porsche 997 led home the six car Triple X Motorsport team to now have a 28 championship point lead after three races
Shooting to an early advantage in the Sunday afternoon 16-lap top-six reversed grid race, he comfortably held off a determined Jonny Reid who now trails Gaunt in the standings.
“Jonny has had pace all weekend whereas I’ve been trying to get my confidence back after damaging the car on Friday morning. We were a little lucky with our win in yesterday’s race, but today we definitely earned and deserved it. So I’m really happy for Triple X Motorsport, MPD and the Outlaws Bar; Michael Morton for letting me use his car – I can’t thank him enough,” he said.
“It was a shame about Bairdo and there is no counting him out of the championship that’s for sure. He’s the best here and has won it every year it’s been contested, so it’s really just a speed bump for him.”
Having won the morning 12-lap race, Baird in the Mad Butcher ZM Porsche 997 started the afternoon finale from sixth position, but was issued a drive-through penalty during the race for contact during his overtaking mission.
He climbed back to ninth and is currently placed fifth in the point standings with five rounds remaining.
Consistency from Whangarei’s Scott Harrison awarded the 21-year-old builder his second third placing for his Porsche race debut weekend. Driving the Mad Butcher Carpet One Porsche 997, Harrison is fourth in the standings.
Team principal Shane McKillen in the VnC Cocktails Porsche 997 was again plying race craft usually reserved for the internationally experienced drivers, minimising his pole position start deficit for the afternoon final race to finish fifth.
Christchurch’s Paul Kelly again duelled with Auckland based McKillen for most of the weekend, finishing seventh for both of today’s races.
With the benefit of a round to refine championship plans, the Triple X Motorsport team will transport the cars and necessary workshop equipment to Christchurch for the series second round late in the month.
Held at the Powerbuilt Ruapuna Raceway, it’s more technical nature adds variety to the series as well as the injection of southern hospitality.
Championship points: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge – after round one of six (top-eight)
Pos Car No. Name Car Hometown Total
1 3 Daniel Gaunt, Triple X Motorsport, 997 Auckland 204
2 2 Jonny Reid 997 Auckland 176
3 32 Mitchell Cunningham 997 Auckland 172
4 5 Scott Harrison, Triple X Motorsport, 997 Whangarei 169
5 1 Craig Baird, Triple X Motorsport, 997 Queensland 156
6 96 Ant Pedersen 997 Palmerston Nth 147
7 90 Paul Kelly, Triple X Motorsport, 997 Christchurch 133
8 4 Shane McKillen, Triple X Motorsport, 997 Auckland 133
