After being rained off from it’s original date, just 19 hours later on January 17th, the New Zealand World 240’s got under way in muted sunshine. A strong representation of BriSCA F1 drivers made the trip half way around the World, with an amazing six drivers making the 26 car grid; Frankie Wainman Jnr (Defending World 240’s Champion), Daniel Wainman, Mick Harris, Tom Harris, Stuart Smith Jnr, & Craig Finnikin.

As defending champion, Frankie Wainman Jnr was always going to be a ‘marked man’ and indeed within a couple of laps of the first heat, found himself in the wall and facing the oncoming traffic, putting a severe dent in any plans of retaining the Championship. Craig Finnikin found out the hard way just how rough the action is when on the opening lap of heat one he was pushed up the wall and over onto his roof. Mick Harris & Stuart Smith Jnr both had early car trouble in Heat 2 pulling onto the infield. With Daniel Wainman too feeling the wars of the New Zealand bumpers, all UK hopes were on Tom Harris who had managed to sneak under the New Zealand RADAR and enter into the last deciding Heat 3, joint first place on points with Joe Faram.

Sadly, glory was not to shine on a UK driver for a second year running as Tom Harris quickly became another victim of the New Zealand bumper, being spun around to face the wrong direction and ending any chance of scoring enough points to take the title. Experience of the New Zealand scene obviously played into Frankies hands, as despite being spun in all three heats, he somehow managed to finish in a very respectable 4th place overall, unbelievably just 3 points shy of eventual title winner, Scott Joblin.

Results

1st – Scott Joblin : 60 points
2nd – Joe Faram : 58 points
2nd – Dale Robertson : 58 points
4th – Frankie Wainman Jnr : 57 points
5th – Dale Ewers : 56 points
6th – Tom Harris : 53 points

A full in depth report of the NZ World 240’s can be found HERE at www.rotoruaspeedway.co.nz

UPDATE: A full hour long video of all three heats and the repecharge (last chance qualifier), with many interviews (including the UK guys) can now be found on Speedbox.TV