Triple X driver David Reynolds has taken three from three wins at the third round of the 2008/09 Porsche GT3 Challenge held in Timaru over the weekend, leading the team charge that now occupies the top three placings in the championship chase.
The Melbourne based driver in the Placemakers – Hampsta – Porsche 997 dominated the entire weekend – setting fastest time in qualifying, winning the opening race and this morning’s second 12-lap race.
Starting from sixth position in the afternoon’s top-six reverse grid 16-lap race, Reynolds moved through the field to win by a margin of 3.6 seconds to take the overall weekend honours.
“The car was fantastic. I didn’t get a very good start in race three, but a few of the guys got hung out to dry and I was fourth by turn three. My car was just on song, words can’t describe the bond I had with it this weekend – it was perfect,” said the 23-year old professional racer.
As the sun intensified during the day, conditions around the 2.4km Timaru track improved, with Reynolds benefiting from a more optimal suspension setup that provided greater drive from the turns.
“It’s pretty special, pole as well – we’ve been hard to fault all weekend to be fair. Dan (Gaunt) and Craig (Baird) have been pretty fast. But Craig has his weekends and I have mine. Now we go to Invercargill and it could go either way – it to’s and froe’s a bit,” he added.
“Now I just have to concentrate on doing what I did this weekend next weekend, working with Spraguey (Peter Sprague) my engineer and try to make the car the best we can – now I just want to keep the good times rolling.”
Second for the weekend and still leading the overall championship, Queensland based Craig Baird (Barrons RV Taupo ZM) finished the final race in third after a second in the morning race. Auckland based team-mate Daniel Gaunt (Beef and Lamp – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997) completed a second successive team lock-out of a race weekend podium – finishing third to secure the final podium spot on the points table.
The final race looked to be a Gaunt’s, but early tyre damage thwarted his outright pace – forcing him to defend his front-row placing, finishing fourth in the finale behind Baird.
Fifth and with a trouble-free run following Saturday’s radiator damage, Sydney driver Rodney Forbes (Hampsta - MPD Dairy Products – Porsche 997) finished ahead of team-mates Courtney Letica (Altherm - Porsche 997) and team principal Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails – Porsche 997).
The team now have a short turn-around time to have the six cars ready – continuing their southern journey to begin the fourth round of the season at the world’s most southern race venue at Teretonga, near Invercargill (16-18 January 2009).
