Triple X Motorsport takes Grand Prix title and clean-sweep Porsche racing

Posted: March 1st, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: New Zealand | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

It’s always nice to get a good result – you get the congratulations to know you’ve done it right.

In stark contrast to the morning race, the team lined-up for the 16-lap top-six reverse
grid afternoon race with rain beginning to fall. Led in the early stages by David Reynolds
after a masterful start, Baird took the lead just before the race was declared early
due to the wet conditions.
“To win all three here makes a big difference to me,” said 38-year old Baird. “The
pressure was on – but David (Reynolds) did a good job – he arrived here late and on a
green set of tyres to run that hard was a good effort,” he described of Reynolds
second placing in each of the weekend’s races.
Baird extends his series lead to 92 points over team-mate Reynolds, with Gaunt third
to maintain the Triple X championship strong-hold.
“It’s quite good – if I have a DN F (Did Not Finish) I don’t have to win every race to still
be in with a chance for the championship final at Pukekohe.”
Sydney’s Rodney Forbes (Hampsta – MPD Dairy Products – Porsche 997) battled
with his team-mates in the finale to finish in fourth, ahead of Daniel Gaunt (Beef and
Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997) in fifth.
Series rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm – Porsche 997) finished sixth after a nil result in
the morning race.
“It was a bit treacherous,” described Letica. “I learned the most I ever could in that
session. Just learning how to control the car on the edge – just drive it a bit slower –
look for the grip and finding the grip so it really taught me a lot.”
“It’s always nice to get a good result – you get the congratulations to know you’ve
done it right.”
Team principal Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails Porsche 997) rounded out the top-ten
of the 13 finishers.

In stark contrast to the morning race, the team lined-up for the 16-lap top-six reverse grid afternoon race with rain beginning to fall. Led in the early stages by David Reynolds after a masterful start, Baird took the lead just before the race was declared early due to the wet conditions.

Triple X Motor Sport. Image credit www.kaptured.com

“To win all three here makes a big difference to me,” said 38-year old Baird. “The pressure was on – but David (Reynolds) did a good job – he arrived here late and on a green set of tyres to run that hard was a good effort,” he described of Reynolds second placing in each of the weekend’s races.

Baird extends his series lead to 92 points over team-mate Reynolds, with Gaunt third to maintain the Triple X championship strong-hold.

“It’s quite good – if I have a DN F (Did Not Finish) I don’t have to win every race to still be in with a chance for the championship final at Pukekohe.” Sydney’s Rodney Forbes (Hampsta – MPD Dairy Products – Porsche 997) battled with his team-mates in the finale to finish in fourth, ahead of Daniel Gaunt (Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997) in fifth. Series rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm – Porsche 997) finished sixth after a nil result in the morning race.

“It was a bit treacherous,” described Letica. “I learned the most I ever could in that session. Just learning how to control the car on the edge – just drive it a bit slower , look for the grip and finding the grip so it really taught me a lot.”

“It’s always nice to get a good result – you get the congratulations to know you’ve done it right.”

Team principal Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails Porsche 997) rounded out the top-ten of the 13 finishers.

Resources: Manfield, kaptured.com, Triple X Motorsport

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