BURGESS NORTH ISLAND PRINTSTOP OSCA CHAMPION

Mark Burgess from Wellington headed to Taupo for the final round of the North Island PRINTSTOP OSCA Super Saloons in 4th place with only a mathematical chance of winning the Championship. For Burgess to win both Tony Oliver and Ashley Anderson would need to fail to complete at least one race. Given both of their consistency through out the series it was an unlikely prospect.

Burgess started the weekend by qualifying in 4th ahead of all the series contenders. The championship ended for Anderson on the start line of race 1. Mike Thompson’s Nissan Skyline failed to leave the grid when the lights went out. Anderson tried to take avoiding action but collided with Evan Munt who was also trying to avoid Thompson. Munt’s Capri and Anderson’s RX7 were locked together causing the race to be red flagged. Both cars suffered suspension damage and were out for the weekend. When the race restated Burgess went on to finish in 3rd place ahead of Oliver’s WRX in 4th.

The reverse grid race two also started with an incident on the start line and was red flagged. On the first lap after the restart Oliver went off the track near the club house and was hit by Brett Stratton’s Sierra Cosworth as he came back on to the track. The crash eliminated both Oliver and 5th placed Stratton.

In the final race Burgess only need to finish but it was not going to be easy. Burgess’s RX7 had developed a knock in the diff and he was having trouble shifting gears. Any failure would hand the championship to former two times champion Brian Gray. Burgess’s crew repaired the broken bolts in the diff in time for the final race. Burgess finished 15th ahead of Gray in 18th. Gray limped home with a failing engine to secure second in the Championship.

The final result saw Burgess first with 440 points, Gray second on 428 and Oliver third with 412 points.