For immediate release
November 14, 2013
McIntyre takes Podium at Challenging Highlands Park Circuit
Nelson Racing Driver John McIntyre came away with silverware from the first ever Motor Racing event at the new Cromwell
Circuit – Highlands Motorsport Park. Competing in a Porsche 911 GT3, McIntyre and Co-Driver Simon Ellingham qualified
second and finished third in the final round of the South Island Endurance Series held last Saturday.
In a field of over 40 cars McIntyre and Ellingham sprinted into the lead for the first 40 minutes of the 3 Hour Race.
Safety cars periods at the wrong time meant the duo in the Fastway Porsche ended up over a lap behind and in 5th place
when McIntyre got back into the car for the final 50-minute stint.
“The safety cars came out all at the wrong time for us. We needed them at the end of the race not the start”, lamented
McIntyre. “But apart from that our pace was excellent and I was able to claw back a whole lap to finish third and with
second in sight. Had the race not been shortened by 7 minutes we might have got onto the back of Shane van Gisbergen who
won and was just 8 seconds up the road” said McIntyre.
The Fastway Porsche Team also entered the Highlands 101 invitational race with the fastest 33 racecars on the same grid
together. Up against the faster GT Cars from Australia the pair put in an excellent performance to finish in 10th place.
“Overall it was a fantastic weekend and something I wont forget in a hurry. The Circuit really grows on you and it’s is
the most challenging in NZ by far. To have a trophy from the first meeting there is very special,” commented McIntyre
John McIntyre’s ninth and final endurance race for 2013 will be at Pukekohe for the final round of the V8SuperTourers on
the weekend of Nov 30-Dec 1.
Ends