The first of three races in this weekend’s finale to the summer race season, Baird took the lead right from the start of the 12-lap race having set second fastest qualifying in clear and mild conditions at the Pukekohe Park Raceway.
“It’s a pretty important part of the race really,” described Baird of his trade-mark start-line performance.“The car was great having changed my driving style a little when coming over the ‘hill’. I worked on that all week as it’s a place I have lost out at previously.”
Qualifying second fastest, Baird said it was strategic move that paid off: “I was happy with my qualifying – it didn’t really faze me being second because the race line is down the outside so you always get a better run down there – a bit more drive.”
Finishing 0.657 seconds ahead of Reynolds, Baird has a 100 point lead with two races to run in the championship.
Fourth, also after a stellar start, Daniel Gaunt (Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997) led rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm - Porsche 997) home after the Auckland 21-year old started from fourth.
Team principal Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails – Porsche 997) finished ninth after again avoiding an opening turn skirmish that caught Sydney’s Rodney Forbes (Hampsta - MPD Dairy Products – Porsche 997). The coming together forced Forbes to pit for a new tyre before returning to the race to finish in tenth.
Currently one-two-three in the championship Sunday’s two remaining races on the race calendar start with a 12-lap race in the morning before the top-six reverse grid finale from 3pm in the afternoon.
Results:
Hydraulink 200 Pukekohe (14th March 2009).
Porsche GT3 Race one – 12 laps (top-five)
1. Craig Baird – Triple X 11min38.476s
2. David Reynolds – Triple X +0.657s
3. Jono Lester +2.725s
4. Daniel Gaunt – Triple X +7.790
5. Courtney Letica – Triple X +10.256
2008/09 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge points (season total after race one at Pukekohe today).
1. Craig Baird – Triple X - 1145
2. David Reynolds – Triple X - 1045
3. Daniel Gaunt – Triple X - 815
