Silverware for Giltrap, Dixon for the Hall of Fame and plenty of great racing: Your week in motorsport

Haydon Paddon Rally Regione Piemonte

The week started tragically with the unfortunate death of Irish rally driver Craig Breen during testing in Croatia. Thoughts are of course with his family and friends, including Haydon Paddon, the Kiwi driver posting a heartfelt tribute to his mate before driving in his memory at the Rally Regione Piemonte in Italy. Paddon and co-driver, Jared Hudson would round out the top five in the event.

Scott Dixon inducted into Motorsport Hall of Fame

More uplifting news came on Friday that Kiwi IndyCar racer, Scott Dixon is among the 2024 Induction Class for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Scott is second only to the legendary AJ Foyt in IndyCar race wins and Championships and his loyalty to his Chip Ganassi Racing Team also speaks volumes to his values, Dixon racing for the team exclusively for 21 years.

“I’m extremely honoured to be thought of in this way and mentioned among many of the greats across so many forms of motorsports. The first thing that comes to mind is how I was able to get here” said Dixon of the induction, before recognising his long-standing partnership with Ganassi racing.

“A single person can never do it alone. I’m grateful to Chip (Ganassi), the team and everyone who has helped make this possible over the last 20 years, and then going back to the start of it all with my parents and the group that helped me along.”

IndyCars at Long Beach

Dixon unfortunately had a nightmare race at Long Beach, with a rare DNF. Mid corner contact with Pato O’Ward sent Dixon to the back of the field and would ultimately see the Kiwi unable to finish due to mechanical failure. Following the race, Dixon let his frustrations be known in his post-race interview.

“I wouldn’t have chosen to do that. But if, if that’s how the series wants us to race, then I guess it’s all gloves off from, from this point and that’s how it would be. So, yeah, disappointed with that,”

Countryman Scott McLaughlin also faced challenges and while was running in the top 5 momentarily could only hang onto 10^th.

“Sitting pretty early in the race in P4 but we had no pace on the green tire. We will keep working but P10 on a bad day we will take and move on!” McLaughlin posted on social media.

Perhaps the drive of the day though was from Rookie Marcus Armstrong who eluded drama to finish 8^th after starting P12 on the grid. An undeniably strong performance just his second Indycar race. The Christchurch native must be happy with that.

Brendan Hartley and Earl Bamber - WEC Portimão 6 Hour

In Europe, Kiwi’s Brendan Hartley and Earl Bamber were campaigning for their respective Toyota and Cadillac World Endurance Championship teams at the undulating Portimão. Brendon Hartley took his second pole position in the last three races and went on to an easily won victory for the car #8 Hypercar with co-drivers Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa.

Bamber and co-drivers, Alex Lynn and Richard Westbrook battled valiantly but couldn’t catch a break, struggling to manage tyre temperature and degradation, the team’s initial strategy to double stint Westbrook changed mid-race and they ran off sequence to finish fourth and down 2 laps.

Brendon Leitch confirms another season in Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2

Also out of Europe comes Brendon Leitch’s announcement he will return for a second season in Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe with Leipert Motorsport. Brendon will drive one of 5 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 Leipert have in the competition, two in the Pro class and three in AM.

Leitch will be a solo driver for an entire Pro campaign in the #86 car. “Very happy to announce my second full campaign for this year!” Leitch said on Facebook.

“Thanks to Dayle ITM, Crowdstrike, Lamborghini Auckland, Giltrap Group and Leipert Motorsport, I will compete alone in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo European Championship for the title, very excited for this to begin in the coming months!”

Silverware for Giltrap

Meanwhile at home, Marco Giltrap added the Golden Homes GT New Zealand championship trophy to his collection with another podium at the weekend’s Super Sprint Motorsport New Zealand event at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon. Giltrap had a 69-point lead over nearest rival Luke Manson entering into the weekend after having had a consistent season with podium finishes at every round, though not managing to clinch an elusive win.

Gilchrist a step closer in TR86 Championship title fight

Other excitement at Manfeild included the Toyota 86 Championship with Matakana’s Brock Gilchrist tightening his grip on the championship title by winning the morning’s top-ten reverse grid race. Closest title rival Clay Osborne had a mixed fortune race, finishing fifth. Feilding local Justin Allen came home second with Hawke’s Bay 15-year-old Tom Bewley third.

It was intensely close in the third and final race with a group of seven hounding and taking turns for the podium. Then on lap 10 Katikati’s Ayrton Hodson left the track at the final turn – hitting the tyre protection barrier. The chequered flag came out under the safety car, Dion Pitt took the win, Osborne in second and Gilchrist finished third.  

Securing the round win, Osborne now trails Gilchrist by 57 points with one round left to secure the title.

Giltrap Group Formula Ford

The Giltrap Group North Island Formula Ford series also wrapped up their 2023 season with three races on Saturday and the championship was won by Aucklander Dylan Grant.

It was a long shot by Palmerston North’s Blake Dowdall to overtake points leader Grant needing to win all three races and claim pole position. However a third in the opening race swung the title back to Grant. For his efforts, 15-year-old Dowdall won the round and closed the gap on Grant to within 11 points.