A win - in streaming wet track conditions - in the final race capped off a breakthrough weekend for defending New Zealand Production Racing champion Simon Sceats and Audi of New Zealand's S3 Sportback at the third round of this season's series at Invercargill's Teretonga Park Raceway over the weekend.
Nothing could touch the sleek silver S3 Sportback as the rain pelted down, Sceats setting the fastest race lap as he made short work of the reverse grid starting format before quickly closing and eventually passing early race leader, Mazda 3 MPS driver Michael Ninkranz.
Ninkranz didn't give the position up without a fight, getting back past the Audi at one stage, but Sceats never gave up, eventually re-taking the lead and holding it to the flag to claim victory from the Ninkranz Mazda and the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Logan Childs.
Having qualified fourth then finishing fourth in the first race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon and again in the second on Sunday morning the win in the final earned Sceats enough points to share second place on the round podium with championship points leader Grant Liston and elevated he and the S3 Sportback to fourth place in the series points standings.
Not bad for a brand new car in its first season of competition.
"It's unbelievable really," said the car's delighted driver, " to score our first win at just the third round of the championship. It's fantastic, and a total vindication of the decision by Audi and International Motorsport and their main sponsors the Audi Dealer Network and Mondiale to put the car on the track."
Having talked frankly before the weekend about the challenge the locally initiated, funded and managed programme presented, International Motorsport General Manager Nick Williamson was also all smiles after the win.
"It's definitely a special moment," he said, "particularly considering all the work the guys responsible for the car put in since the last round. The car hasn't missed a beat all weekend and to see it set the fastest race lap and win a race in such trying conditions is a dream come true!"
The S3's performance, understandably, also put a smile on Audi of New Zealand General Manager, Dane Fisher's face.
He was there to watch the car take the chequered flag and says it is a memory he will cherish for a long time.
"Simon and the International Motorsport team did a fantastic job and we couldn't have wished for better weather conditions for Simon to showcase Audi's famous quattro all wheel drive system, other than perhaps snow!" said Fisher. "The ability of our quattro vehicles to master Kiwi drive conditions is one of the key factors behind Audi's position as the leading luxury brand in New Zealand for the last four years."
Sceats and the Audi S3 Sportback now head to Timaru for the fourth round of the 2010/11 New Zealand Production Racing Championship this coming weekend.
