Two class titles will be decided this weekend, in the fourth and final round of the Golden Homes GT NZ Championship at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon at Feilding.
With three rounds fought out at Highlands, Hampton Downs and Taupo, Porsche driver Marco Giltrap leads the Open Class on 739 points, from Heremana Malmezac on 707, with Luke Manson third on 702 – both in Porsche machines.
With three races still to run for the season, a number of drivers in the top 6 could mathematically win the Championship.
Giltrap has had a consistent season to date with a number of podiums across the nine races so far, and despite not managing to clinch a victory this season, he will be eyeing the top step of the podium and to finish at the top of the championship table by the end of the third race this weekend.
“I’m looking forward to the final round at Manfeild, coming into it in the best position possible, currently leading, however not by much,” said Giltrap.
“I am still looking for my first race win however, the team has given me a great car all series and have stayed consistently on the podium. This weekend we have a change of engineer to Stephen Giles who I have worked with closely throughout my Toyota 86 campaign.
“Stephen has a wealth of experience and we will certainly be pushing for the win this weekend.”
In the GT4 class, Mercedes AMG driver Jono McFarlane leads on 771 from last year’s GT4 Champion, McLaren driver Nigel Cromie who is just 50 points behind on 721. Third is Aston Martin driver Stephen Harrison who is on 670 who could clinch the title if the other two contenders have poor results.
Still an outside chance to win the championship is Grant Aitken in his Porsche Cayman GT4. Aitken sit’s 150 points behind McFarlane and with 300 points up for grabs over the weekend could be a contender to win.
“The season has been so much fun with great results and a very frustrating DNF,” said McFarlane.
“Nigel has always been in the hunt along with a few other competitors. He’s a great guy on and off the track with us both racing hard but giving each other room.
“I don’t have the pace against Nigel or Todd (Bawden) in the wet but in the dry it should be a great battle over the weekend.”
17 cars will line up in the GT4 class this weekend, with eight cars contesting the Open Class.
The Golden Homes GT NZ Championship will have two 30-minute races, and a one-hour feature race at the Manfeild circuit.
Golden Homes GT NZ Championship – Round 4 Entry ListCLASSDRIVERCARGT4Stephen HarrisonAston Martin VantageGT4Joel GiddyMercedes AMGGT4Allan SargeantGinetta G55GT4Steve ScolesGinetta G56GT4Richard CrabbMcLaren 570SGT4Nigel CromieMcLaren 570SGT4Rudy Van Het WoutMcLaren 570SGT4David CrannaMcLaren 570SGT4Todd BawdenMcLaren 570SGT4David RogersMcLaren 570SGT4Brent FormanMcLaren 570SGT4Jono McFarlaneMercedes AMGGT4Glenn CotterillMercedes AMGGT4Grant AitkenPorsche 718 CaymanGT4John BuchananPorsche 718 CaymanGT4Oliver Saxton / James PatersonPorsche 981 CaymanGT4Rianna O’Meara-HuntPorsche 981 CaymanOpenWayne LeachFerrari 488 ChallengeOpenFrancois Beziac / Jono LesterPorsche 911 MROpenHeremana MalmezacPorsche 911 MROpenLuke MansonPorsche 991OpenPaul Southam / Rob SteelePorsche 991.2OpenPaul PedersenPorsche 991.2OpenMarco GiltrapPorsche 991.2OpenRob Anderson / Gene RollinsonLamborghini Super Trofeo