Christchurch driver, David Kerr was successful in his quest to become just the second driver to win four South Island Midgetcar titles in a row when he dominated the 49th running of the title at Ruapuna Speedway on Saturday. Kerr dropped just one point when winning two of the three heats and finished second in the other to finish on 32 points three clear of Nick Donaldson with Steve McCallum in third place on 22 points. The 37 year old now joins Trevor Hall as the only four time repeat winner.  

Kerr showed his rivals the he was the one to beat when coming from near the back of the field to win the in record time over 15 laps. Kerr took the lead in one classy outside pass which saw him go from fourth to first as the three leading car were lapping a slower car. Brad Mackwell pushed Kerr all the way to finish second with Donaldson third. The race started in spectacular fashion when one of the pre-meeting favourites, Aaron Webb crashed out of the event when his car touched a rival sending Webb’s car into a of violent roll in the first 50 metres of the race. 

The second heat followed a similar pattern with Kerr taking out the chequered flag from Mackwell and Donaldson, which left Kerr going into the final heat two points clear Mackwell with Donaldson a further two points adrift. Kerr’s pit crew were kept busy before the deciding heat when they had to quickly change a diff after discovering a fault.

Mackwell’s title hopes were dashed when he clipped the safety fence early in the race with his car riding the fence then gaining some serious air time before crashing heavily back to the track. Thankfully the young driver walked away from the badly damaged car.

When the race restarted Donaldson and Kerr quickly moved to the front of the field with Kerr then taking the lead on the Prison bend with Donaldson then regaining the lead with several laps to run with Kerr knowing that second placing would be enough to giving him the title. 

Kerr then backed to take out the Feature, from Donaldson and Dunedin’s Gavin Wilkie.

A large field of sprintcars turned out for the Canterbury championship, raced over three heats which saw three different winners, Ray Baughan, Matt Honeywell and Karen Forsey but the move consistent Baughan (41 points) took out the title from Cromwell’s Jason Scott (36) and Invercargill driver Kyle Sharing (33).

Their was closing racing in the provincial title for the sidechairs which saw the top points scorers going into a one off final race which saw the veteran’s of the class, John Warwood and Laurie McMahon hold off a race long challenge from Clint Warwood/Paul Auton with Aaron Ray/Bevan Nuttridge a close third.

The TQ class used the same format to decide their title with Ryan Stone pulling off a last bend pass to take the trophy from Blair Warren, by a car length, with Tony Inglis third.   

Tim George took out the final heat in the modified sprint class, to go along with his two second places to lift the Canterbury tile from Darryl Harris and Kieran Harris. 

Race Results (Competitors From Christchurch Unless Stated)

Midgetcars
City South Van Spares 49th South Island Championships
Ht 1. David Kerr 1, Brad Mackwell 2, Nick Donaldson 3. 
Ht 2. Kerr 1, Mackwell 2, Donaldson 3. 
Ht 3. Donaldson 1, Kerr 2, 1, Andrew Brown (Inv) 3.
Finals Points; Kerr 32, Donaldson 29, Steve McCallum 22, Mackwell 20, Gavin Wilkie(Dunedin) 22, Brown 17, Dudley White (Inv) 15, Phillippa Melrose 11, Matt Milne 10, Nick Marquet (Nelson) 8, Aaron Webb 0.  
Feature. Kerr 1, Donaldson 2, Wilkie 3. 

Sprintcars – Canterbury Championships
Ht 1. Ray Baughan 1, Karen Forsey 2, Jason Scott (Cromwell) 3. 
Ht 2. Matt Honeywell 1, Kyle Shearing (Inv) 2, Baughan 3. 
Ht 3. Forsey 1, Steve Mora 2, Baughan 3.  
Final Placings: Baughan 1st, Jason Scott (Cromwell) 2nd, Sharing 3rd. 

Modified Sprints – Canterbury Championships
Ht 1. Darryl Harris 1, Tim George 2, Nathan Astle 3. 
Ht 2. Kieran Harris 1, George 2, D Harris 3. 
Ht 3. George 1, D Harris 2, Astle 3.
Final Placings: George 1st D Harris 2nd, K Harris 3rd.

Three Quarter Midgets
Ht 1. Gareth Bindon 1, Tom Lumsden 2, Jeremy Webb 3.
Ht 2. Phillippa Melrose 1, Ryan Stone 2, Rachel Melrose 3.
Canterbury Championship Feature. Stone 1, Blair Warren 2, Tony Inglis 3. 

Quarter Midgets
Ht 1. Matt Leversedge 1, Nathan Clive 2, Luke Adams 3. 
Ht 2. Leversedge 1, Adams 2, Liam McCoubrey 3.
Ht 3. Clive 1, Jay Basalaj (Nelson) 2, Leversedge 3.

Sidechairs – Canterbury Championships
Ht 1. Clint Warwood/Paul Auton 1, Pete Stevens/Ben Gilmore 2. 
Ht 2. John Warwood/Laurie McMahon 1, Paul Anderson/Craig Oliver 3.
Ht 3. Aaron Ray/Bevan Nuttridge 1, Stevens/Gilmore 2, Carl Ostomy/Dave Green 3.
Ht 4. Warwood/Auton 1, Warwood/ McMahon 2.
Ht 5. Warwood/McMahon 1, Ostomy/Green 2, Stevens/Gilmore 3. 
Ht 6. Warwood/Auton 1, Ray/Nuttridge 2.
Final. Warwood/McMahon 1, Warwood/Auton 2, Ray Nuttridge 3.   

Youth Ministocks
Ht 1. Bryden Stuart 1, Liam Hopkins 2, Syd Fergusson 3.
Ht 2. Fergusson 1, Jamie Collins 2, Hopkins 3.