Drivers limber up at Taupo for final winter warmer

Two chilly practice sessions on Saturday ahead of the final round of the first Toyota 86 Trophy Series saw Ajay Giddy and Toby Elmiger top the time sheets.

Harry Townshend was quickly into his stride in Practice 1 and set a benchmark 1 minute 42. 898 lap inside of three laps around the 3.3km track but he was quickly pushed into third place at the ten-minute mark by Ajay Giddy and Toby Elmiger (pictured above).

Giddy’s lap was good enough for a margin of just eight one thousandths of a second ahead of Harry. Townshend – despite reporting suspension issues – had put in a faster effort on his fifth lap and ended the session with a two tenths advantage over Elmiger, with Corban Sprague just a whisker behind in fourth.

Championship leader Lee Zeltwanger stayed true to the form he has shown in practice sessions throughout the Trophy Series and was happy to end the session mid-pack, half a second off the pace but consistent on his lap times.

Nathan Grammer was next up but Matthew Day - third in the points race – finished his day with gearbox issues early in the session. Newcomer Mitch Vye used the session to settle in for his TR86 debut weekend but had transponder issues meaning no representative time was taken.

In the second session of the afternoon – in fading light and with a track getting ever colder – young Toby Elmiger was into the groove quickly clocking a brisk 1 minute 43 second dead lap to go four tenths faster than Zeltwanger early on. First into the 1 minute 42 bracket was Giddy, and Elmiger quickly followed, as did Townshend.

Elmiger  went a fraction quicker again on his fifth lap to go top, finishing the session ahead of Giddy, Zeltwanger, Townshend and Sprague.

Sunday will be a busy final day of the inaugural series for the drivers, with a practice and qualifying session before the first of two races.

The grid for the first will be decided by the drivers’ fastest time in qualifying, with the grid for race two defined by their second fastest qually lap. Weather for the final day of action in the Toyota 86 Trophy Series looks set to be fine, if a little chilly.

Saturday Practice Session 1

1.     Ajay Giddy                - Mackenzie Motorsport

2.     Harry Townshend      - Mackenzie Motorsport

3.     Toby Elmiger             - Action Motorsport

4.     Corban Sprague        - CareVets Racing

5.     Lee Zeltwanger         - Skunkworks Racing

6.     Nathan Grammer      - Mackenzie Motorsport

7.     Matthew Day            - Dayle ITM Racing

8.     Mitch Vye                  - Right Karts Academy (No time taken)

Saturday Practice Session 2

1.     Toby Elmiger             - Action Motorsport

2.     Ajay Giddy                - Mackenzie Motorsport

3.     Lee Zeltwanger         - Skunkworks Racing

4.     Corban Sprague       - CareVets Racing

5.     Harry Townshend     - Mackenzie Motorsport

6.     Nathan Grammer     - Mackenzie Motorsport

7.     Mitch Vye                - Right Karts Academy (No time taken)