Baird wins first ever race on Hamilton street circuit

Former Hamiltonian Craig Baird has earned the distinction of being the first driver to win a race on the Hamilton street circuit.

Baird won this morning’s Porsche GT3 race, the opening event of the racing programme of the three-day carnival in the Waikato city.

Baird, now based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, opened an instant lead over rising star Jono Lester, edging to ore than two seconds before a Safety Car period bunched the field after Australian Rodney Forbes damaged his car after bouncing over the chicane on the back straight.

Baird was back in command at the restart, and cleared away as Lester slotted back into second and Daniel Gaunt became embroiled in a battle with Ant Pedersen and Jody Vincent.

Pedersen, who had been hounded by Vincent slotted past Gaunt at Turn 1, taking Vincent with him.

Vincent kept up the pressure, and got past Pedersen with a bold move on the final lap.

Baird won by almost three seconds.

Pole-winner David Reynolds didn’t start after peeling off into the pits at the end of the formation lap.