Four very different racing categories will supply the action when the second meeting of the season takes place at Teretonga Park on Sunday.
The meeting presented by Downer will feature the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons, Sports & Racing Cars, Kumho Sport Saloons and Super 6 Saloons - a diverse range of motorsport classes.
Invercargill driver Robert Ralston (Nissan Silvia) was the early pacesetter in the Clubmans races at the opening meeting of the season last month but Brent Cross of Winton in a Mitsubishi EVO, Pierre Neame of Winton and Tony Mann of Dunedin in their Ford Capris and Andrew Brown of Invercargill in a turbocharged Honda Civic all featured strongly and shared the honours throughout the day. All are back on Sunday while they are joined by one of the most potent saloon racing combinations from the south - Invercargill driver Colin Dawson in his Mazda RX7.
Also joining the grid in a rare appearance is Rodger Cunninghame of Invercargill in a Ford Mustang.
Class winners from the opening meeting, Ivan Harvey in a Toyota Levin and Jeremy Dawson in a Toyota Starlet also return.
Damon Leitch will continue preparations for his campaign in the Toyota Racing Series when he drives the same Tatuus Formula Renault he used to dominate the Sports & Racing Car Class at the October meeting. The battles behind Leitch were enthralling on that occasion with Don Nelson of Riverton in a Reynard, Steve Heffernan of Invercargill in his Van Diemen Formula Ford and Jamie Conroy in a Formula Renault all prominent.
The Kumho Sport Saloons will hold the second round of their series at this meeting after the opening round took place at Timaru several weeks ago. Timaru drivers dominated at their home track and as they arrive at Teretonga Chris Small leads the series from Ivan McAuley and Grant Waters, all three driving Mitsubishi EVOs. Gary Duncan (EVO) suffered a setback at the opening round but should be back amongst the frontrunners this weekend. Brent Cross will also race in this class in his EVO.
The Super Six Saloons, featuring the six-cylinder Ford versus Holden battle, also come to Teretonga for the second round of their series. Holden honour should be upheld by Nathan Blomquist of Christchurch, Kurtis Boult of Queenstown and Todd Sutherland of Dunedin while Fords best runner should be Canterbury driver Wayne Christie. Paul Muir of Gore will be the top local hope in his Commodore after a good performance at Timaru while fellow local Commodore drivers John Muir and Merv Lloyd are also in the field. New Southland Sports Car Club member Ashley Hooper of Dunedin also lines up in one of the few Fords on the grid.
The action starts with qualifying at 9.30am on Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults and children under 14 are free.
