• Howick and Pakuranga Times
Proctor, of East Manukau, won the reverse grid race three after starting on pole position in his Metalman Ford Falcon, taking the chequered flag three seconds ahead of Andrew Adamson.
The victory has maintained Proctor’s position of 10th in the drivers’ championship of 27 competitors on 376 points, while other local East Tamaki driver Paul Manuell has moved up one spot to 11th on 369 points.
Queensland-based Craig Baird has jumped into the lead of the championship after dominating the round at Timaru, winning two races and finish ninth in the final reverse grid race of 22 laps.
Christchurch driver Eddie Bell was second for the round after scoring two third places and a seventh, while Auckland’s Tim Edgell was third overall with two second places and a 15th.
Bell has propelled himself into second in the drivers’ championship, pushing Nelson’s John McIntyre down to third, after a weekend where he damaged his car beyond repair for the Sunday race day.
Manuell, a former New Zealand V8 champion, explains how the wet weather conditions hampered drivers and teams.
“The drizzle turned to rain just as the rolling start procedure commenced for race one. Numerous incidents followed, then a red flag as the wet track was cleared,” says Manuell.
“We joined most of the other teams and changed from slick Dunlops to wets. After that we were pleased to keep pretty clear of the dramas to finish fifth.
“The rain came down again for the third race and lining up in 17th place officials declared it a wet race, so we were all on wet tyres.
“But we got caught up in another incident, one driver tapped another and they collected the ORIX Holden Commodore – that was that really.
“Disappointed is the only word you can use, especially when the AV8 Motorsport team is much happier that our Holdens are right up there on the leading Ford Falcons in terms of speed and performance now.”
Manuell is determined to have a strong run to the end of the series. “We’ll be gunning for more podium finishes and strong results overall to give ORIX Team Racing the best possible finish to the season.”
Baird is focused on maintaining his lead in the V8 drivers’ championship.
“A lot can happen in a week and we know McIntyre will come back at us stronger than ever with only two rounds remaining. It’s important to drive each race rather than look at the overall rounds, so I’m going to have to give it maximum at Manfeild and Taupo.”
The next and penultimate round of the BNT V8s Championship takes place at Manfeild Park in Feilding over the weekend of February 13-14.
2009/10 BNT V8s Championship points after four rounds (top 12 drivers of 27): Craig Baird (Falcon) 668, Eddie Bell (Falcon) 555, John McIntyre (Falcon) 553, Tim Edgell (Falcon) 524, Kayne Scott (Falcon) 509, Andy Booth (Commodore) 494, Andy Knight (Falcon) 466, Angus Fogg (Falcon) 440, Andrew Anderson (Commodore) 396, Clark Proctor (Falcon) 376, Paul Manuell (Commodore) 369, Haydn Mackenzie (Falcon) 362.
