Selwyn Times: February 01, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday February 1 2023
24
SPORT
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
‘This is it’ – Sprintcar drivers rapt to
• By Allan Batt
THIS WEEKEND’S
New Zealand Sprintcar
Championship at Ruapuna
Speedway has attracted 46
competitors – the second largest
in the 52-year history of the
event – with Selwyn drivers
poised to make an impact.
Former winner Jamie Duff has
been somewhat inconsistent this
summer, showing lightening fast
pace but having a string of minor
mechanical issues. Last weekend
the Halswell resident returned
to form, finishing second in the
New Zealand Sprintcar Grand
Prix at Cromwell, but he is under
no illusions how tough this
weekend’s racing will be.
The 32-year-old is keen to grab
another national championship
win, but said it’s a tough proposition.
“You really need everything to
go your way. The 10-lap heat races
will be tough, and every point
on offer is vital. One mechanical
issue, an untimely flat tyre or
getting caught up in someone
else’s crash can make it a tough
road into the finals, but we have
found plenty of speed in the car,
and with the next nationals in
Christchurch being six or seven
years away we really want to give
this a good crack.”
A 30-year veteran, Southbridge
Speedway driver Dave Kerr has
made the switch to sprintcars
and is upbeat about taking part.
Said Kerr: “(Sprintcars) are
big fields, they are big powerful
cars to drive, and a hell of a buzz
too. There is a real neat bunch of
people involved in the class too.
Most of my team were ready for
a change and a challenge – this
is it.”
Early in his career Kerr won
the national minisprint championship,
before moving up into
the powerful midget cars. He
went on to become the most
successful South Island driver in
that section of all time.
Ruapuna club president Rob
Roxburgh is confident that
despite only two South Islanders
winning the championship in
the past 37 years – Bruce Hobbs
in 1986, and Duff in 2015 – there
is enough ability in the mainland
ranks to get onto the podium.
“There is no doubt that the
North Islanders have a slight upper
hand in equipment, and they
are all battle hardened following
an international series up there
in December, but our guys have
also been primed by recent War
of the Wings Series races and I
think it’s going to be a very tight
contest.”
One driver who has returned
‘home’ after spending most of
the summer racing in Auckland
is Prebbleton’s Matthew Leversedge.
He says the northerners
may not have the advantage
they normally do.
PSYCHED: Hometown hero
Jamie Duff is keen to wow
a big Ruapuna crowd again
this weekend.
PHOTOS: MOTORSPORT
FILES
“The weather up north has
made it a really disrupted campaign.
We are rapt to be back
at Ruapuna. I’m pretty familiar
with how the track changes as
the two nights of racing go on.
“A national championship is a
real step up from all other races
in the country. Every time you
hit the track at a nationals is important.
You have to put in five
good heat races, and then be on
top of your game in the feature
to have a shot at it.”
SELWYN
SPORTS CENTRE
DODGEBALL
COMPETITION
Tuesdays 6–8pm, starting 7 March
That game you played in gym class is back!
Dodgeball is a fast-paced action-packed sport suitable for all ages
and abilities. If you can dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge – this is
the game for you.
Teams will play multiple games each night. Get a team of six
together and register now!
$30 per team per week. Registration required. To find out more
phone (03) 347 2888 or visit selwynsportscentre.co.nz
SELWYNSPORTSCENTRE.CO.NZ
SELWYNSPORTSCENTRE