Kayne Scott scored his second NZ V8s win of the weekend when he took a narrow victory over Angus Fogg in this afternoon’s second heat of the three-race final round of the 2007/2008 series.
Fogg’s placing in the Caltex Havoline Ford Falcon has cut series leader John McIntyre’s points advantage to just eight going into this afternoon’s reverse-gird 22-lapper.
McIntyre’s weekend went bad yesterday afternoon when the BP Ultimate Falcon blew its engine during Race 1 and retired.
That saw him out of the race and gaining no points. Fogg, third behind Scott (Fujitsu Falcon) and Andy Booth (Big Ben Pies Holden Commodore), closed the points gap to 55, then sliced 47 off it today.
McIntyre started today’s race from 22nd place (cars that don’t finish a race go to the back of the field for the next heat), with Fogg going from second outside Scott.
McIntyre worked his way through to 16th at the finish; Fogg came home second behind Scott.
Scott led from the start, with Fogg gradually dropping back in second place before closing the gap as the race entered its second half.
Had Fogg succeeded in getting in front of the Hamiltonian – and had McIntyre finished 16th – the two title rivals would have gone into the reverse-gridder equal on points.
Paul Manuell (Orix Commodore) finished today’s race third, with teammate Booth right behind him.
Fifth place went to Mark Pedersen who had a brilliant drive in the United Video Falcon, harrying Clark Proctor’s Metalman Ford before getting past mid-race.
David Besnard (Falcon) got the better of a good battle with Andrew Anderson’s ITM/Pinepac Commodore to place sixth.
Ford racers, Dean Perkins, Luke Youlden and Paul Radisich, completed the top 10, Radisich passing series rookie Michael Bristow (Falcon) right at the finish.
The race was stopped on lap two after Adam Brook’s Falcon left the road in the sweeper, rolling and catching fire briefly after track workers righted it.
Scott resumed his lead at the Indian file restart, with Fogg behind him. They gradually opened a good gap over Manuell and Booth.
The Focus is now firmly on the reverse grid race.
Fogg will start from the very back of the field, alongside Scott.
McIntyre will start from mid-pack which should give him the edge.
But anything can happen in a reverse grid race, and usually does: the key for both men will be getting cleanly through the slower traffic.
A collision would spell disaster.