OSCA Thrill at Manfeild

Close racing, spins, penalties and a new lap recoded were the features of the 4^th round of the North Island PRINTSTOP OSCA Super Saloons series at Manfeild last weekend.

After qualifying on Pole series leader Andy Greenslade was judged to have jumped the start when his V8 Camaro crept forward at the start of the first race. Andy was given a drive through penalty which was converted in to a 30 second penalty when he failed to take it before then end of the race.

Cameron Jones set a new lap record for OSCA Super Saloons of 1:10.208 in his Mazda RX7 Turbo. The new record replaces the one set by Gavin Stewart in a similar car in 2004.

Qualifying on Saturday morning saw Greenslade take pole position from Jones with Tony Oliver’s Subaru WRX in third and Wayne Huxford driving a Nissan Turbo in 4^th.

In Race 1 Greenslade, Jones and Huxford took the early advantage when Tony Oliver spun in the hairpin. Brian Gray spun while avoiding him almost blocking the track. The field managed to get through without any contact but the front three had a big lead. Two laps later Brett Stratton had a big loose in his Sierra Cosworth coming on the front straight spearing across in front of Tony Stewart’s RX7 who was steadily moving up through the field. Rob Mitchell also found the conditions very slippery in his Escort Rotary will multiple spins. Greenslade crossed the line first but was later penalised 30 seconds for jumping the start handing the win to Jones with Huxford second and Stewart third.

Race 2 was a reverse grid with a 5 second delay after the front two cars. This format always produces exciting racing with the faster cars coming through from the back of the field. Jones was the fastest through the traffic taking the win from Greenslade and Oliver.

The final race was the traditional handicap. Out the front Paul Ingram’s Starlet Turbo had a spectacular engine blow at the end of the straight. The Handicapper did an almost perfect job with the field bunching up as the headed down the back straight for the final time. It was Paul Tanner who took the chequered flag but he received a 10 second penalty relegating him 8^th place after he went too fast and broke out of his handicap. The race win was taken by Ashley Anderson in his RX7 Turbo from Mark Burgess in another RX7 Turbo and Greenslade.

The PRINTSTOP OSCA Super Saloons will be at 2HOT2 HANDLE at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on 8^th April and 9^th April for some demonstration runs down the drag strip before heading to Taupo at Easter for the final round of the series. Andy Greenslade remains in the lead of the North Island championship but Cameron Jones closed the gap again at Manfeild.

Qualifying

1, 1, Andy Greenslade, 1:10.427

2, 7, Cameron Jones, 1:11.317

3, 78, Tony Oliver, 1:11.484

4, 8, Wayne Huxford, 1:12.766

5, 20, Tony Stewart, 1:13.477

6, 13, Ashley Anderson, 1:13.906

7, 56, Mark Burgess, 1:14.160

8, 10, Brian Gray, 1:16.109

9, 42, Brett Stratton, 1:17.911

10, 18, Graham Barnes, 1:17.975

11, 84, Brent Ingram, 1:19.269