NIMRRA New Zealand Champs 2011 Round One

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Saturday morning Qualifying, pretty much set what was to be the trend for the weekend.  Jarrod Parmenter qualified top on 1:14:657, followed by Blair Robertson (ex Phil ,Blythe Car) 1:16:311, Case Wortel (ex Eddie Bell car) 1:16:323, Brent Collins (ex Jeff Judd car) 1:16:379, Jason Corboy (ex Jason Corboy car) 1:16:417.  The top North Island car was Bob Smith on 1:16:451 followed by Brad Lathrop on 1:18;011, Matt Gibson, 1:18:158 and Terry Carkeek 1:18:542.  It looked like a bit of a trouncing was about to begin for the northern travelers.

 Race One on Saturday afternoon was 6 laps.  Apart from first position which was really just a bit of a stroll for Jarrod, the rest of the field was embroiled in a series of torrid battles.  All pretty good hard but clean racing really with the finishing order behind Jarrod going; Brent Collins, Blair Robertson, Bob Smith Mal Walters and Case Wortel.  The next best placed North Island car was Brad Lathrop in 10^th followed by Matt Gibson in 11^th still struggling with brakes.

 Race two was the reverse top ten grid and it really only took Jarrod a lap and a half to reach the front where he again settled in to a morning cup of tea at the wheel while he peeled off low 1:15 minute lap times on his way to another race win.  No such time to spare behind him though as the rest of the field battled for position in the reverse grid format.  On lap three Bob Smith found himself scuttled sideways at turn 5 eventually spinning out.  The officials decided that Blair Robertson was to blame for the incident and issued him with a drive through penalty.  Post race, Blair was not as convinced about the decision, but the marks on Bob’s car seemed to indicate that the officials may have got it right.

 Next to exit the hard stuff was Brad Lathrop as he hooked a big second gear changing down for turn two and went around.  He recovered quickly to join an already three wide battle for honours out of turn three and proceeded on.  Final results here were; Jarrod Parmenter 1^st, followed by Jason Corboy, Mal Walters, Brent Collins, Case Wortel, Daniel Taylor and then the recovered Brad Lathrop in 7^th.  Matt Gibson finished 9^th with Bob Smith managing to recover to 10^th position. 

Race three inevitably again turned into a Jarrod Parmenter benefit, but that was really the only position in the field that remained undisputed.  Huge battles raged between all the remaining competitors.  Unfortunately Brad Lathrop was this time on the receiving end of some contact and he was sent barreling of the outside of turn six, somehow managing to prevent a complete spin and rejoined several places down. 

The finishing positions for race three were; 1^st Jarrod Parmenter, followed by Brent Collins, Blair Robertson, Bob Smith, Mal Walters, Case Wortell, Daniel Taylor and Jason Corboy.  Brad Lathrop recovered to finish 10^th ahead of Matt Gibson.

 Results aside, it was a great weekend and the southern boys certainly made us all feel welcome.  The South Canterbury Car Club excelled themselves in the running of a very busy event and also the immaculate presentation of the circuit, the grounds and the facilities.

Round two of the New Zealand Champs is to be run in conjunction with the final round of the North Island Series at Taupo during Easter weekend.  Five of the South Island Series One cars are expected to travel north for this event and the possibility also of Hamish Collins bringing the only remaining south Island Pro 7 Plus car up for a run also.

Judging by the fiercely close racing experienced at Timaru, and if you remove the possible home track advantage, then the final round at Taupo looks to be spectacular.  Each of the drivers heading north are all capable of running in amongst the top of the north island field and that will lead to some breathtaking racing action.  It will all depend on how quickly the south Island guy’s can get to grips with the Taupo circuit.

New Zealand Pro 7 Championship positions after round one are:

1^st        Jarrod Parmenter                 90 pts

2^nd       Brent Collins                         72pts

3^rd        Jason Corboy                       66pts

4^th        Blair Robertson                    65 pts

5^th        Mal Walters                           61pts

6^th        Bob Smith                              59 pts

7^th        Daniel Taylor                        58 pts

8t^h       Brad Lathrop                         54pts

9^th        Matt Gibson                           49pts

 

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