The second round of the Super Sprint MotorSport New Zealand Championship season was held at the world’s southernmost FIA race circuit.
Following a summery start for Saturday’s race action, Sunday’s forecast was for periods of rain.
Not knowing how much or for how long left drivers and team engineers having to make strategic decisions on car setup and tyre choice.
The early afternoon race of 25 laps started under drying conditions with teams taking the gamble to start on a full wet tyre.
Hedge won by a sizeable 5.599sec margin over Ryan Sheehan, while pole-sitter Ryder Quinn finished third.
As conditions improved for the afternoon 30-lap race, Wurz won as he started, keeping Hedge behind him for his second win for the season.
"It has been really good," Wurz said.
"We have improved a lot — getting two wins and a pole position. We couldn’t be happier to be honest."
The 17-year-old Austrian extends his lead for the overall title with Hedge now second and US driver Jacob Abel in third.
Wurz was racing at Teretonga 31 years after his father, former Formula 1 star Alexander Wurz, had competed at the circuit.
During a brief safety car period to retrieve a stranded Tim Leach, there was a concertina collision involving three cars near the back of the field, resulting in the retirement of Thomas Mallard and Harry Townshend.
The final 20-lap race was an exciting conclusion run under clearing skies, and Brock Gilchrist (Matakana) took the win from Pitt to extend his lead in the overall standings.
Cromwell-based rally star Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i30 TCR) won the overall Southern Sprint title from Dunedin driver Brian Scott (Porsche 997.2) and Southlander Alex Crosbie (Ford Mustang) after three different drivers won the races.
Jordan Michels (Invercargill) won the first in his MARC Ford Focus from Paddon and Liam MacDonald, while Paddon won Sunday morning’s race after making a great tyre choice in the damp, rally-like conditions.
Invercargill driver Scott O’Donnell (Porsche 996 Cup) was second in the Sunday morning race with Brian Scott third. MacDonald suffered a breakage before the race start and Michels spun off on slick tyres on the slippery surface.
O’Donnell won the finale, a handicap race, from Michels, who started over a lap down. Invercargill driver Alex Crosbie (Mustang) was third.
The Slalom Challenge provided some entertainment on Saturday with American driver Chloe Chambers, the Guinness World Record holder for vehicle slalom, up against Paddon, McLaren Extreme E driver Emma Gilmour and North Island Formula Ford champion Breanna Morris.
Paddon prevailed in 28.67sec.
By: Staff reporter
