The Auckland pairing of Andrew Bagnall and Ant Pedersen, in a Porsche GT3, were clear winners of the South Island Endurance Series (SIES) second round at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch on Saturday.
In a repeat result of the first round a fortnight ago in Invercargill, the Paul Kelly and Craig Baird Porsche GT3 came in second after fighting with the winners until the last 20 minutes of the race.
Third home was the Matthew and Dwayne Carter V8 Supercar Ford Falcon which dominated the first half of the race, leading until their first pitstop, halfway through the three hours.
At this point the two top Porsche drivers took command, with Super Black Racing V8 Supercar driver Pedersen, pitted against the most dominant Porsche driver in the world, Baird.
Baird led until just after the two-hour mark when Pedersen put in the fastest lap of the race, passing at the end of the front straight.
Baird responded by closing the gap to 0.349sec and putting in a quicker lap.
However, after two hours and 40 minutes Pedersen retaliated by breaking Baird's fastest lap and after 114 laps, winning by 17sec.
Pedersen praised his co-driver.
''Andrew [Bagnall] did a great job. It made it easier for me once I jumped in. Craig [Baird] was pushing real hard, but we held out and the tyres were strong at the end,'' he said.
An impressive race from Southland's Inky Tulloch and Queenstown's Grant Aitken saw the new Chev Camaro GT3 finish fourth, followed by Dunedin's Allan Dippie and Scott O'Donnell, of Invercargill in their Porsche GT3 Cup S.
In fine conditions 28 starters took to the grid. Notable DNFs included the Chev Corvette C6R of Alexandra's David Garden and Bruce Davidson.
After reaching a comfortable second overall around the halfway mark, a drive belt let go, causing an oil spill and eventual retirement.
In the one-hour race Auckland's Hugh Gardiner convincingly won in his Porsche GT3. Second home was Christchurch's Hayden Knighton and Garry Cliff, with Sam Fillmore and Danny Stutterd third - all in the same marque as Gardiner.
Dunedin's Chris Henderson, in his Corolla AE86, was dealt a cruel blow when third was snatched from him on the last lap.
He was, however, the first Class 1 (over 3501cc) car home, adding to his class win and third overall in round one a fortnight ago.
The series now moves to the final round at Levels Raceway in Timaru on October 18.
