Bayleys Wigram Revival - Round 1 NZ Championship
Ruapuna Race Meeting -27-28 October 2012
A fantastic line-up of Mini 7's made up the grid alongside the Pre 65's at the Wigram Revival meeting over the weekend. Mini 7 South drivers were joined by a contingent from the North Island to compete in Round 1 of the NZ Mini 7 Championship. Nick Croyden-Fowler along with Elliott and Warren Heron added to field alongside return drivers Kent Yarrall from Nelson and Micheal Pelling from Rolleston. Altogether 15 Mini 7's took to the track with Alan Crawford bringing his Supermini up from Invercargill to join in the fun.
Race one on Saturday initially saw close up-front racing between Grant Kugener, Elliott Heron, and Nick Bartley - Elliott managing to make a break on the field leaving Grant and Nick to work hard for second and third place respectively.
Sundays's racing started early - Race two was action packed with Nick Bartley spinning off in the first lap after a tyre to tyre nudge with Kent Yarrall. Nick worked hard to move from the back of the field through to finish in 8th place. In the meantime Elliot Heron and Grant Kugener battled the track for the final flag taking a good lead on the field. Elliott running through first by a fraction of a second. Further back in the field Sam Gavin and Warren Heron also continued the challenge around the track with Barry Wilson & Micheal Pelling adding to the fray.
Race three - a run for the bend in Flexiplas corner saw Nick Croydon-Fowler take a spin in the first lap with the battle for the lead between Elliot and Grant continuing. Close draughting and passing manouvres made for great spectator sport. Consistent racing saw Ryan Charles well up in the results table.
Newcomer Darryl Nicholls, racing in Doug Drake's 98 car, experienced the most frustration as he struggled to get through the a lap before car issues saw him back to the pits - better luck for Timaru Dell-boy.
