Magnificent Seven ride again

29 January 2021 / Event

Matthew Payne clocked the fastest time of the day as the seven remaining runners in the 2021 Castrol Toyota Racing Series completed their practice day ahead of Round 2 on Saturday.

Peter Vodanovich continued his impressive development in single seaters as he clocked the fastest times of the first and second session on Hampton Downs' National Circuit.

All drivers ran both session on old tyres and it was the reigning Best Bars Toyota 86 Champion and Erebus Junior who impressed, getting into his stride quickly and posting impressive times on both short and longer runs.

Payne, currently sitting second in the Castrol Toyota Racing Series after the first weekend, topped the third and final session which was significant for it being the first in which drivers could run new tyres. It was consequently the session in which the day's fastest times were recorded. Kaleb Ngatoa was his closest challenger in the session, just over a tenth behind his championship rival. Billy Frazer showed a solid turn of pace too with third fastest time.

The seven drivers have qualifying on Saturday morning and two races during the day as a major attraction for the annual TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Festival being held at the track.

With the pandemic having precluded international drivers from racing in this year's championship, and the rest of last week's Grand Prix runners absent, the focus for the championship now switches to driver development with all seven - including the five best young prospects in single seater racing in New Zealand - all gunning for this year's championship title.

Practice 1