Advantage Allan after fine race victory at Taupo

Championship leader Hugo Allan holds a strong hand of cards as the Bridgestone GR86 Championship heads into its final race of the season at Taupo later today.

A fine drive in Race 2 this morning saw Hugo fight his way to the front and extend his championship lead over Josh Bethune, who also had a strong drive to finish fifth. In a dramatic race, Chris White limped home in 16^th – after running in the leading pack throughout - to take the Rookie title for the season. Simon Hunter drove his best race of the season to win the Masters title.

Either Allan and Bethune can all still do it when the final race gets underway at 11.20am this morning, but Hugo will start with a significant points advantage over his nearest rival Josh after dropped points are applied. Only a win will do for Josh in the final race, and even then Hugo only needs to finish tenth or higher.

With the top ten of the grid a reverse of the finishing order from Saturday’s first race it was fast rookie Arthur Broughan on pole position alongside fast master Simon Hunter and as the lights went out it was Hunter who made a perfect getaway while Broughan slid back into the pack as they went into the first turn.

Hugo Allan made an important pass to move to fourth as they completed the first lap while title rival Josh Bethune  - Saturday’s winner – had also made up one place to sit ninth. At the end of lap one it was Hunter, Justin Allen, Cameron Hill, Allan, Chris White, Cooper Barnes, Zach Blincoe, Bethune and Jack Westbury.

Allan was the man on the move passing Cameron Hill for third as the pack closed up behind while Bethune matched his progress by moving up to eighth. That became seventh when he passed Right Karts by M2 Competition teammate Barnes on lap three. Hayden Bakkerus was also making progress further back after starting last and had made up seven places by halfway.

In a typical nose-to-tail battle pack, Hunter held on to the lead as the race entered the second half, but was under immense pressure from Justin Allen. Bethune made further progress to sixth on lap five and then got through to fifth past Chris White a few corners later. Hugo Allan then produced a brilliant lap to go from third to the lead before building a small – but comfortable – gap.

There was a furious battle in the pack behind which Bethune navigated impressively and with two to go he had progressed to fourth.  The racing wasn’t over, however, and Hunter fought back to retake the spot in the dying stages of the race.

Behind winner Allan, Zach Blincoe had an impressive race moving from ninth to second in the intense battle, while Justin Allen completed the top three. Hunter held on for a fighting fourth. Bethune finished fifth ahead of Barnes, Caleb Byers, Westbury, Emerson Vincent and Hill. After being taken out of the race on Saturday – Bakkerus put in a mighty drive to go from the back to an eventual 15^th place, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the hunt for the title. That will be won by either Hugo Allan or Josh Bethune.

2024-2025 Bridgestone GR86 Championship – Round 6 – Race 2