Californian Jonathan Allard stepped off the plane in New Zealand last week and walked straight into Zero Motorsport headquarters to put the #1NZ Hydraulink/Porter Group/Albany Toyota Sprintcar together. The team faced a rush against time as the team only received the Maxwell Engine from Australia on Friday at 3pm where they had to put the engine in and fire it up to make sure everything as right. Saturday was the opening night of the 2011/12 season at the worlds prestigious Western Springs Speedway and once again, the Sprintcar racing action was hot. It was an average field of 15 winged warriors thats set to grow as the season progresses.
Allard and the Zero Motorsport team had a good first up heat race coming from grid seven to finish third. At the half way stage on lap five, Allard was starting to blow smoke from the engine which saw the team quickly fix the only problem for the evening. Second heat race saw Allard chase down a fast Dean Brindle from grid 4 to finish second by only two car lengths.
It was time for the main race of the evening;the 20 lap A-Main where the front row was filled by ex New Zealand Champion Dean Brindle and outside him South Islander Jamie Duff. On row two was current Springs Track Champion Ryan O'Connor with Allard outside on grid four and Ricky Logan and Carl Wilson on row three.
Brindle got a great start on the field and by the end of lap one he was half a straight clear on second place Duff whom was soon passed by third place Allard with a beautiful inside move. Allard then had his sights on the leader Brindle whom at that stage had a full straight away lead. As the two lead cars came across lapped traffic, Brindle chose the high line while Allard followed the lapped car down low. With five laps to go, Mid pack runner Daniel Eggleton got it crossed up as he attempted a pass on Glenn Torpey. However Raymond Griffen, with nowhere to go, collected Eggleton in turn three forcing Allard got on the brakes. Despite sliding into Griffen, luck was on his side and he managed to get away leaving Griffen parked up bringing out the only yellow light of the race.
As the field got reset, Allard was right on Brindle's tail tank for the next four laps when the white flag was waved. Allard took the low line again into turn one and two with Brindle up high to make the pass for the lead going up the back straight. Brindle tried the inside slide pass on Allard in three and four before Allard dived back down underneath Brindle out turn four to take the #1NZ Hyrdaulink / Porter Group Sprintcar to its first victory.
“I really felt comfortable with the car from our first race” Allard said after the victory. “The Zero Motorsport team have done a fantastic job getting this car ready and giving me a car that was a rocket from the first green flag. It felt great to take the car to our first win of the season and I would like to also thank Hyrdaulink, Porter Group, Albany Toyota, Valvoline, Radio Sport and Kevin McGreal for their support”
