NZ: M2 Motorsport Manfeild Park summary

McLENNAN LEADS CHAMPIONSHIP TO FINAL ROUND

With just one round remaining Wellington Porsche GT3 racer Simon McLennan will lead his class of the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup into the final round at Taupo next month.

McLennan, in just his first season in the category, leads the Mothers 996 Cup category by 16 points from experienced campaigner Hugh Gardiner.

McLennan grabbed the lead of the series at the second round in Christchurch in November where he took his first round win in only his second drive in the class. This past weekend at Manfeild in Feilding he added another round win in yet another impressive performance in his New World Metro On Willis Porsche GT3 996.

McLennan began the weekend at Manfeild by setting the fastest qualifying time in the class in a close battle with Aucklander Gardiner. Qualifying took place in dry condititons but rain arrived as McLennan and his fellow competitors were preparing for the first race late on Saturday afternoon. The change in weather and track conditions were of little consequence to the young rookie as he drove impressively in the wet conditions to win the class from series newcomer, the internationally experienced Gene Rollinson, Simon Evans and main championship rival Gardiner.

The following morning saw McLennan in action again, this time in dry conditions. A small mistake during the 12 lap race saw Simon fall behind Gardiner and Rollinson and he crossed the line in third position. However of some consolation was the fact that he set the fastest lap time in the class during the race.

In the final race of the round Simon shadowed Gardiner all the way to the flag, his three results giving him his second round win in a stellar debut season.

"It was cool to score a round win in front of family and friends here," he said after stepping off the podium on Sunday. "Saturday was cool. We had the pace to qualify well in the dry and then we were able to back that up with a really good run in the rain. I was disappointed with my race two pace. I made a mistake and went onto the grass and finished behind Hugh and Gene. Race three was cool. I love to win but it was great to battle hard. In terms of points it is important to look at the bigger picture. It was a great weekend."

McLennan and Gardiner will now go head to head at Taupo to decide the championship over three races on the weekend of 20/21 March.

Twenty-two-year old McLennan is a relative newcomer to motorsport having been a late starter in karting before moving into the motor racing scene via the MINI Challenge series last summer. In his own words it is a "huge step up" from the Mini to the ultra-fast Porsche GT3 996 that he now races but McLennan has made a big impression in his first season in the category.

Simon McLennan's campaign in the 2009/2010 Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Championship is supported by New World Metro On Willis, Auto Despatch, Heretaunga Collision Repair Centre, Ice Tech New Zealand, Orrsum Laser Services, RTW Motors Ltd, Kinetic 121 and Powder Coating Services.

-source: m2 motorsport