Link GTR clean sweeps the Kumho Sport Saloon season
Timaru driver Neville Stowell wrapped up the 2008/2009 Kumho Sport Saloon Series in fine style at his home circuit today. Stowell ended the championship with another round win to complete a clean sweep as he took the title for the second consecutive year. Stowell took out the round despite not starting the final race, a handicap event, due to a cracked sump suffered in a coming together earlier in the day.
Stowell's domination of the series was complete today when he won his sixth round from six for the season. He also won his class title and finished third in the handicap championship held in conjunction with the series.
Stowell started the day by taking his Nissan Skyline to victory in this morning's race to add to his win in yesterday's opening contest. Timaru drivers filled the next four places with Raymond Hart second in his Skyline, Chris Small third in his Mitsubishi EVO, Ron Shelton fourth in his Nissan Silvia and Matt Dunn fifth in his turbocharged Toyota Corolla. Christchurch driver Scott Ballingall was sixth in a Mitsubishi EVO.
Nathan McAuley of Timaru and Phil Hood of Kaikoura caused some excitement at the start of the race when they had a coming together with McAuley's car tipping onto two wheels before landing back on all four. Both drivers retired their Mitsubishi's from the race.
Later in the day series newcomer Murray Beeby of Timaru won the handicap race in his Nissan Sentra from Invercargill driver Shane Crosbie in a turbocharged Toyota Starlet and Timaru's Grant McKissock in a Mitsubishi. Grant Waters was fourth in his Mitsubishi ahead of fellow Timaru driver Ivan McAuley in a similar car while another Invercargill driver, Darcy Hewitt, was sixth in a Nissan Primera.
Yesterday Stowell had qualified on pole position ahead of Mike Small, the last man to beat him in a round of the series almost one year ago. Then in the opening race he beat Chris Small, Mike Small's son, across the line. Small senior was third ahead of Ron Shelton.
Stowell declared himself "happy as" after the victory. "We were lucky to win the round. Raymond Hart and I had a coming together in this morning's race and because of the cracked sump I chose not to start the handicap race. The faster cars didn't get through and move up in the handicap race so I managed to win the round."
Other class winners in this year's championship were Matt Dunn in the T2 Class and Chris Small who won the T3 Class by one point from Gary Duncan of Temuka while the Handicap Champion for 2008/2009 was Noel Parish of Motueka.
See earlier news articles about Neville Stowell's car here and here.
