Gaunt tops Porsche team result

Today’s final Porsche GT3 Cup race rewarded Triple X Motorsport driver Daniel Gaunt (Placemakers – Hampsta Porsche 997) with a second placed finish in a 12-lap race after a first turn incident that eliminated the Barrons RV Taupo – ZM Porsche of Craig Baird.

Completing the street-race trophy weekend at the Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar event, it was Gaunt’s best result for the final race of the summer season – topping the weekend standings for the five-car Porsche team.

Starting from third position in the top-six reverse grid race, Gaunt held his inside line advantage while team-mates Baird and John McIntyre in the VnC Cocktails Porsche collided at the first turn.

“I had my nose clear – had clear track – aimed for it and took it,” said Gaunt of his position climb at the start of the race. “Obviously there was a bit of carnage going on behind out of the first corner. So to get second we were happy with – I just didn’t have the initial pace to catch Jody (Vincent) let alone to defend, so I had to let him get away from me a bit.”

With a fourth, third and finally a second, Gaunt reckons he could have gone one better: “If there was another race – I would have probably gotten that first.”

For Baird, it was a bitter sweet after two wins from the first two races, recording his first DNF (Did Not Finish) for the season.

“I got a blinder start to get between John McIntyre and Daniel Gaunt and then tried to make up another spot – went wide – no problem – then heading off where the kink is in the wall I got squeezed where it is a bit rounded and it broke something in the front.”

Reticent about the incident, Baird said he was going for position: “It doesn’t worry me – it’s not a place I would have positioned myself if it were a championship round anyway. I was trying to make up four spots by turn one and put myself in a vulnerable position and paid the price.”
“I had so much pace on everyone in that one – as I saved my new tyres for that race – that was the bit that fucked me off the most.”

Clearing past the first-turn melee, rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm Porsche 997) tagged in behind McIntyre, before the former two-time V8s champion had to pit for a left rear tyre after being squeezed in to Baird.

Running fifth, Letica was later overtaken for position to finish sixth at the final chequered flag, with McIntyre seventh.

Mike Morton in the #2 green Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group - Porsche 997 car, had a radiator failure that sidelined his final race of the weekend.

“I had a hit at the start, then after a few laps got to the Holden corner – went to turn and ended up going straight. I think it was fluid from the radiator after the start incident – got on to the tyre and fuck. 55 sausages for $20,” added the Mad Butcher CEO.

With Gaunt taking second overall for the street-race trophy weekend, the team scooped the 2008/09 Porsche GT3 Cup Championship trophies in a morning prizegiving ceremony held at the track. Along with Craig Baird’s ‘hard charger’ trophy and Courtney Letica’s ‘rookie’ title, the team also were awarded five premium Tissot watches, three for the championship one-two-three placings plus two for a secondary series run by the timekeeping brand.

The Triple X Motorsport team now focus on endurance and test sessions ahead of a new championship season – to defend their current two top titles in only two seasons of competition.

Results: Race three - 12 laps

Pos Car Driver Vehicle Fastest...Lap

1 10 Jody Vincent (AKL) Porsche 997 1:27.9712

2 47 Daniel Gaunt (AKL) Porsche 997 1:27.8676

3 98 Mark Russ (AKL) Porsche 997 1:28.0530

4 51 Jono Lester (AKL) Porsche 997 1:28.0579

5 96 Ant Pedersen (ROT) Porsche 997 1:27.7228*

6 13 Courtney Letica (AKL) Porsche 997 1:27.8889

7 40 John McIntyre (AKL) Porsche 997 1:27.8844

8 35 Rob Steele (AKL) Porsche 1:30.9352

DNF 2 Mike Morton (AKL) Porsche 997 1:34.5718

DNF 11 Darryn Henderson (WGT) Porsche 997 2:28.5227

DNF 1 Craig Baird (AUS) Porsche 997

Baird takes double Porsche victory

Today’s first two Porsche races in the Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar weekend have been dominated by Triple X Motorsport driver Craig Baird in the Barrons RV Taupo-ZM Porsche 997.

Unchallenged at the front of the field, the 38-year-old Queensland based Kiwi has led home the five-car team after two-12-lap races around the 3.4km street course in the Frankton business district.

“There wasn’t a lot of pressure – I just cruised really,” said Baird.

Today’s double victory and fastest lap time of 1min26.6812sec will put Baird back to sixth position for the final race on Sunday – the top-six reverse grid start.

“I was playing with driving lines a lot – as I’m not happy with the exit speeds of the car. So I was seeing how wide and narrow I could brake and stop – as it’s hard to pass round here and it gave me the chance to try things before tomorrow’s race.”

Following a fourth in this morning’s race, Daniel Gaunt in the Placemakers-Hampsta car finished third under perfect skies after a slow-start to his weekend.

“We moved forward and it was catch-up from qualifying where I missed out my best time when the session was red-flagged,” said Gaunt. “So we suffered for the first part of the weekend - hopefully we can get another podium result tomorrow.”

Gaunt will start tomorrow’s final 12-lap race from the second row.

Fourth this afternoon after finishing sixth in his first Porsche race for the Triple X Motorsport team, two-time V8s champion John McIntyre (VnC Cocktails Porsche 997) found switching between his V8 and the Porsche physically demanding.

Dicing with team-mate Courtney Letica (Altherm Porsche 997), the pair had a tit-for-tat battle in the opening lap – joined by Jody Vincent for a three-wide drag down the front chute. McIntyre took the eventual advantage, with Letica later tagging the wall – damaging the rear bumper on his car.

Mad Butcher CEO Mike Morton had a fraught day after consistent lap times in qualifying on Friday. A late race spin in the morning dropped him down the order before running out of clutch in the opening lap of this afternoon’s race.Tomorrow’s final race in the trophy weekend at the V8 Supercar event starts from 11:45am with the weekend results celebrated on the event podium at 2pm.

Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar weekend - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge trophy racing:
Race one – 12 laps

Pos Car Driver Vehicle Total time
1 1 Craig Baird (AUS) – Triple X Porsche 997 18:53.2951
2 51 Jono Lester (AKL) Porsche 997 18:53.8742
3 96 Anthony Pedersen (ROT) Porsche 997 18:56.8115
4 47 Daniel Gaunt (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 18:57.9212
5 10 Jody Vincent (AKL) Porsche 997 18:58.1043
6 40 John McIntyre (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 19:00.0714
7 13 Courtney Letica (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 19:00.5006
8 35 Rob Steele (AKL) Porsche 19:16.6659
9 2 Mike Morton (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 19:32.3348
DNF 98 Mark Russ (AKL) Porsche 997 6:10.4632
DNF 30 Ben Storey (AKL) Porsche 996 2:19.8641

Race two – 12 laps
Pos Car Driver Vehicle Total time

1 1 Craig Baird (AUS) – Triple X Porsche 997 17:29.7504
2 51 Jono Lester (AKL) Porsche 997 17:34.1845
3 47 Daniel Gaunt (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 17:38.8281
4 40 John McIntyre (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 17:42.9656
5 98 Mark Russ (AKL) Porsche 997 17:49.4239
6 35 Rob Steele (AKL) Porsche 18:32.8200
7 10 Jody Vincent (AKL) Porsche 997 18:56.9552
8 13 Courtney Letica (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 18:59.2209
DNF 2 Mike Morton (AKL) – Triple X Porsche 997 1:38.8965
DNF 96 Anthony Pedersen (ROT) Porsche 997

Trophy weekend points – top-six (after two of three races)
1, Craig Baird – Triple X 150
2, Jono Lester - 134
3, Daniel Gaunt – Triple X 114
4, John McIntyre – Triple X 99
5, Jody Vincent – 88
6= Courtney Letica – Triple X 84
6= Rob Steele – 84

Baird wins first Porsche race

Triple X Motorsport driver Craig Baird in the Barrons RV Taupo ZM car has won the opening Porsche GT3 Cup race around the Hamilton 400 street circuit this morning.

Starting from pole, Baird comfortably held out the field for the 12-lap race which was punctuated mid-way by a brief safety-car period.

From the inside of the second row, John McIntyre made his first start in the VnC Cocktails car, swallowed up as he got the Porsche 997 off the line. With Daniel Gaunt in the Placemakers-Hampsta car tucked in behind, the pair swapped positions as the chase began.

Rookie Courtney Letica in the Altherm car benefited from a strong start to mix with his team-mates for a race battle.

Gaunt took the advantage to finish fourth, with McIntyre sixth and Letica seventh. Mad Butcher’s Mike Morton in the Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group finished ninth with three cars non-finishers.

The second race of the weekend for the five-car team is from 1:50pm.

Baird fastest in street race qualifying

Triple X Motorsport racer Craig Baird has topped the Porsche field in qualifying for the first of three races at the Hamilton V8 Supercar weekend.

Taking to the 3.4 kilometre street course around Hamilton’s Frankton business district, Baird in the Barrons RV Taupo – ZM car dominated the 20 minute session with team debutant John McIntyre in the VnC Cocktails car 0.4466 seconds behind.

“It’s very bumpy – it’s surprising,” said Queensland based Baird after setting his fastest lap. “I had one big moment at the chicane where I bent something, but I was lucky enough to complete the lap to set fastest time.”

“Half the track that was bumpy last year is fixed 100% and then other parts where there has been movement in the ground – the car just bounces all over the place. We’re just glad to be consistently faster so the race tomorrow should be a lot easier – we’ll just be rattling our fillings out during it.”

Immediately after setting his fastest lap time, McIntyre clipped a tyre bundle located on the entry to the back-straight chicane which launched the car after tearing the front right wheel loose from its mounts. Causing the session to be red-flagged (halted). McIntyre’s time for second position was then deleted – leaving him with third fastest for the session.

“Obviously I’m really happy with the pace but disappointed when you damage any car,” said McIntyre after returning the car for mechanics to effect repairs.

“I just got the chicane wrong and it just takes the wheel out of your hand and shovels the car where it wants to – so we’re very lucky it didn’t fire us in to the wall. Now we’ve been shuffled back to third, which I think it’s better to start behind Craig (Baird) and be on the inside at the first turn.”

“But obviously I’m learning, I’ve done the qualifying; now I’ve got to learn how to race the cars.”
With two 12-lap races on Saturday, Baird and McIntyre will be line-astern, with Daniel Gaunt (Placemakers – Hampsta – Porsche 997) starting from fifth, Courtney Letica (Altherm – Porsche 997) in seventh and Mad Butcher CEO Mike Morton (Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group - Porsche 997) 11th.

A final 12-lap on the Sunday will be followed by a podium presentation from 2pm in the afternoon.

Qualifying: Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar weekend - Porsche GT3 Cup
Pos Car Driver Vehicle Time

1 1 Craig Baird (AUS) –Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 1:26.7143
2 51 Jono Lester (AKL) Porsche 997 +0.651
3 40 John McIntyre (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +0.797
4 96 Anthony Pedersen (ROT) Porsche 997 +0.8057
5 47 Daniel Gaunt (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +0.8088
6 10 Jody Vincent (AKL) Porsche 997 +1.0280
7 13 Courtney Letica (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +1.3505
8 98 Mark Russ (AKL) Porsche 997 +1.8419
9 11 Darryn Henderson (WGT) Porsche 997 +2.3500
10 35 Rob Steele (AKL) Porsche 996 +3.5344
11 2 Mike Morton (AKL) - Triple X Motorsport Porsche 997 +5.7138

McIntyre to race Porsche at Hamilton

Two-time V8s champion John McIntyre will now race a Triple X Motorsport Porsche at the Hamilton V8 Supercar street race weekend alongside his regular JMR Ford (17-19 April).

A late opportunity to contest the three-race non-championship event fell McIntyre’s way when the seat in team principal Shane McKillen’s VnC Cocktails car became vacant.

Familiar with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car type 997, McIntyre is excited to have the opportunity to drive the #40 VnC Cocktails entry.

“Any day you get to drive in another race car is a very good day,” said the 32-year old professional driver from Nelson. “I’m looking at taking the opportunity with both hands and trying to put in a good performance for the team and sponsors, and enjoying the fact that you’re racing one of the best cars you can drive at Hamilton really.”

Having tested in one of the new 997 cars last September at Taupo, McIntyre says the shakedown time will be valuable at ensuring he is concentrating on the racing instead of learning to drive the car.

With Queensland based Triple X Motorsport team driver Craig Baird also dual driving in the NZ V8s category as well as the Porsche class, McIntyre says the stark difference between the cars makes them easier to drive.

“If my fastest lap is on the third race on the Sunday then I would have done my job from the team’s point-of-view – so we’ll just try sneak up on it.”

The five-car, Auckland based team also includes Mike Morton (#2 Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group Porsche 997), Daniel Gaunt (#47 Placemakers – Hampsta Porsche 997) and Courtney Letica (#13 Altherm Porsche 997)

McKillen’s absence is due to business commitments rendering him unable to attend the Hamilton event.

McIntyre’s first laps of the 3.4 kilometre street course through the Frankton business district will be from 9:55am on Friday morning before qualifying in the afternoon. Saturday morning starts the weekend racing with the first of three 12-lap races; one in the morning followed by a second in the afternoon. The weekend concludes with a mid-day race Sunday afternoon before the podium presentation ceremony from 2pm.

Porsche champions take on street battle

Multiple Porsche GT3 Challenge Cup champions, Triple X Motorsport will field five type 997 cars in this weekend’s three race battle around the Hamilton streets as part of the V8 Supercar weekend (17-19 April).

One month on from the victorious one-two-three in the 2008/09 championship season, the team have the defence of the inaugural street race trophy that Craig Baird (Barrons RV Taupo – ZM – Porsche 997) secured last year after dominating the field with three race wins.

Stepping in to the car vacated by the V8 Supercar contracted David Reynolds – Auckland’s Daniel Gaunt will drive the Placemakers-Hampsta Porsche, making room for Mad Butcher CEO Mike Morton to drive the Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group car.

“Every one of our cars are the same,” Gaunt explains of the seat shuffle. “Porsche obviously do a great job of getting every car very similar – so it’ll be the same adjustments we make to get the setup suited to me,” he annoted to the difference between his podium placing steed and this weekend’s chaser.

With street-course experience this year in Australia, the 24-year old says the Hamilton event is one he is looking forward to: “It’s pretty straight-forward and creates good racing. It has good apexed curves so you can see through most of the corners, plus they’ve made improvements this year that should be for the better.”

Clean-sweeping the championship field again this season, Baird says the Hamilton event suits his style of competition: “Street circuits are something I really enjoy and thrive on really. I just love the concrete and non-forgiving nature; whether it’s a curb with grass run-off or concrete wall - I will charge in just as hard.”

Using 3.4km of streets in Hamilton’s Frankton business district, the concrete block lined course provides an up-close feel for both spectators and Baird, who will tackle the course for the second time.

“I enjoyed the track – the platform they started with in their first year was exceptional so I can only imagine it’s even better with the changes they are making – so I’m looking forward to getting back to it,” said the newly crowned Porsche champion who has now amassed 21 New Zealand titles.

Included to the title-winning team line-up, season rookie Courtney Letica will make his first start at a street circuit event in the Altherm Porsche 997 with team principal Shane McKillen in the VnC Cocktails car.

Beginning with brief testing and weekend qualifying on the Friday, Saturday morning starts the weekend racing with the first of three 12-lap races; one in the morning followed by a second in the afternoon. The weekend concludes with a mid-day race Sunday afternoon before the podium presentation ceremony from 2pm.