Waite Puts The Final Touch to a Great Season

NZ V8 Utes Press Release
22 APRIL 2012

Waite Puts The Final Touch to a Great Season

Andrew 'DJ48' Waite has put the final touch to a great season by winning the UDC V8 Ute category at the ITM400 Hamilton.

Waite had sealed the championship last month and came to this non championship round keen to repeat the dose in front of the V8 Supercar teams. While many of his championship wins have been dominant, the nature of Hamilton meant a battle of attrition across qualifying and the three races for all competitors.

In a wonderful trifecta for Jake and Kirk Stoneman of the Western Motor Group they not only prepared Waites ute but also the second and third placed vehicles - the Ward Demolition Holden of Aucklander Peter 'Kaos' Ward and the BSL/Buckley Systems Falcon of Mike 'Buzz' Lightfoot.

Waite was fastest in qualifying on Friday in his Valvoline/Hydraulink Falcon, racing with extra support this weekend from MTA, and looked good for a clean sweep. However the marble draw grid for the opening race saw him behind Wellington driver Dave 'The Boss' Stewart who made a lightning start. Waite was quickly through to second but he just did not have enough to pass the Metro Brick Holden. It was the first ever UDC V8 Ute category win for Stewart and he was elated.

Impressive debutant Rob 'Big Rig' Gibson of Taupo was third in his Betta Auto Parts Falcon, an amazing performance considering he was having his first UDC V8 Ute race and his first race on the demanding Hamilton circuit.

Chris Hanley won Sunday mornings race when it was red flagged after a big accident at the chicane. Waite was working his way up the field when his engine cut out and he went straight through the chicane. Geoff 'SOS' Spencer followed but the TWL/The Barn Company Holden became airborne. It landed on its left rear wheel and the car pivoted and snapped into the wall. Peter 'Rocketman' Robb of Wanganui got caught up in the carnage and also went into the wall before cannoning across the track into the other wall.

The results were taken back a lap giving Hanley victory from Ward, Spencer, Waite, Robb and 'Big Rig' Gibson.

Mike 'Buzz' Lightfoot became the third race winner of the weekend in the final race. Waite only needed to finish to take the round but at the first corner Stewart hit Lightfoot who in turn hit pole sitter Waite who emerged dead last. The champion pitted before rejoining to finish 10th while Stewart copped a time penalty. That left Lightfoot to enjoy the victory from Hanley and another rookie, Brett Rudd of Manukau City, who took a fine third place - his best result of the season. 'Dirty Dave' Kernohan of Turangi was fourth ahead of son Jeff 'Ripples' Kernohan with another rookie Boyd 'Boydo' Norwood of Palmerston North sixth.

It was a frantic weekend of UDC V8 Ute racing. Looking back at his latest victory Waite said "it wasn't the way I wanted to win but the Valvoline/Hydraulink Falcon had good pace." Waite will travel to Australia later in the year to take up his prize for winning the New Zealand Championship, the Chris Pither Scholarship - Powered By Ice Break Racing, which will allow him to take part in a round of the Australian Championship.

Support for the V8 Ute category comes from UDC Finance, Armor All, Xtreme Race Clutches, Nulon Oils, Radio Hauraki, Yokohama, Woodstock, BMC Air Filters, SCT, EFILive, Holden, Ford, Espresso Cafe, McEntee Event Hire and The Gearbox Factory.
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