WHEELS

The Race for Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

Currently leading the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Auckland’s six-car Triple X Motorsport team have three races between them and the season championship trophy being raced this weekend at Pukekohe (13-15 March).

Led by Queensland based Kiwi Craig Baird (Barrons RV Taupo – ZM – Porsche 997), he holds a 92 point lead over team-mates David Reynolds (Placemakers – Hampsta – Porsche 997) and Daniel Gaunt (Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997) as the trio race for outright podium honours in the sixth and final championship round for the season.

Following a season that started early November last year, the team have set a number of lap records and dominated the 14-car Porsche GT3 cup field that has traversed the country to return to the south Auckland race venue.

 For this weekend’s finale, defending champion Craig Baird says it will be ‘business as usual’ as he seeks to wrap up his 21st New Zealand title and fifth time lifting the Porsche cup.

“I never even think about each individual title,” muses the 38-year old ex-pat Kiwi.  “I probably break it down more in to individual races, moreso than championships because you have to piece the races together to get the championships.  So its cart and horse stuff really.  If you talk about championships before individual races you’ve probably got it round the wrong way.”

With 75 points allocated for each race, the current rankings could change abruptly should any number of factors intervene with a calculated plan - putting all thoughts of celebration on hold until Sunday afternoon.

Fifth in the standings, Sydney’s Rodney Forbes (Hampsta -  MPD Dairy Products – Porsche 997) is in with a sling-shot  of moving to fourth – with the benefit of consistency in his race season.

Directly behind team principal Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails Porsche 997) in the standings, rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm - Porsche 997) has the added impetus of improving on his first round results at the 2.841km Pukekohe Park Raceway venue. 

Against highly experienced racers, the 21-year old has been on a steep learning curve that has fixed his sights on first finishing.
Following two test sessions on the Friday around the clockwise circuit, the team get to treat sponsors and guests to hot-lap rides late in the afternoon.  The Saturday morning qualifying heats up the championship competition, with an afternoon 12-lap race followed by a second 12-lap race on Sunday morning.  Concluding the 18-race season is the 16-lap top-six reverse grid race from 3pm in the afternoon.

2008/09 Porsche GT 3 Cup Challenge – points after round five (of six) – top 11.

1.     Craig Baird (Triple X) – 1070
2.     David Reynolds (Triple X) – 978
3.     Daniel Gaunt (Triple X) – 756
4.     Jono Lester – 706
5.     Rodney Forbes (Triple X) – 657
6.     Jody Vincent – 635
7.     Ant Pedersen – 586
8.     Darryn Henderson – 569
9.     Mark Russ – 533
10.  Shane McKillen (Triple X) – 512
11.  Courtney Letica (Triple X) - 430 

Image 1:
On the countdown to championship victory, Triple X Motorsport driver Craig Baird has a 92 point lead in the Porsche GT3 Cup with the final round this weekend at Pukekohe. Photo: SportProMedia

Image 2:
Currently third in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge standings, Triple X Motorsport driver Daniel Gaunt is racing to secure the final podium position being raced at Pukekohe this weekend. Photo: SportProMedia 

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