ON FIRE: Mike “Buzz” Lightfoot has taken his BSL Falcon to two race wins in the latest rounds of the New Zealand V8 Ute series. Photos supplied

• Howick and Pakuranga Times

MOTOR racing V8 ute driver Mike “Buzz” Lightfoot has been heavy on the pedal in the last two rounds of the New Zealand series, with two race wins in tricky conditions.

The Dannemora resident also came from the back row of the grid to third place in two races at the rounds in Invercargill and Timaru, to maintain his third spot in the championship.

“The weather was absolutely atrocious, which makes it very difficult,” the 47-year-old told the Times.

He put his BSL Falcon, which has a 5.4-litre engine generating 400hp, into the gravel on a sharp left-hander during qualifying at Invercargill’s Teretonga track.

Fortunately, grid position for each round’s first race is decided by a random draw, with qualifying counting for points only.

Lightfoot drew pole for the opening eight-lapper, only for the same corner to catch him out on lap two.

He regained the lead a lap later and held on for his first-ever win in his second season in the V8 utes.

“Once you get that first win, you’re on your way. The pressure comes off because you know you can do it.”