Van der Drift secures the first-ever TCR New Zealand title

Track Tek Racing’s Chris van der Drift was crowned the first-ever champion of TCR New Zealand. In the winner-takes-all event at Cromwell’s Highlands Motorsport Park, van der Drift drove his Audi RS 3 LMS to back-to-back victories in the first two races, staking a claim on the title. A fifth place in the third race won by rally ace Hayden Paddon, was enough for van der Drift to secure the crown. 
In Race 1, pole sitter Paddon, pulled into the pits on the warm-up lap due to an axle failure which prevented him from starting. Greg Murphy led the race from Paul Radisich during the early stages; both were on rain tyres and as the track dried their pace faded. After starting from P6, van der Drift quickly made his way through the field, taking the lead in lap 12; behind him Gene Rollinson had and up-and-down race, dropping to as low as fifth after engaging in a fierce battle with Jaden Ransley and Lochlainn Fitzgerald-Symes. Once Rollinson broke free, he overtook Greg Murphy for second on the final lap, while Ransley retired with a brake issue.
Van der Drift didn't win with ease in Race 2, as Rollinson put pressure on him the entire length of the race and eventually finished second just 0.535 seconds adrift; Murphy claimed another third place with sizeable gaps in front and behind him. 
After the mechanical failure in Race 1, Paddon shot from last on the grid up to fourth early on, but he was unable to progress further forward after Murphy had created a gap. Radisich and Jordan Michels provided much of the entertainment, fighting for sixth place.
Paddon made up for the disappointment with victory in the last race. During the first lap Radisich's VW Golf and Murphy's Audi came together and both cars were ruled out with suspension damage. In lap 8, Rollinson retired from second with a blown head gasket and one lap later, van der Drift's leading Audi jammed itself in fifth gear, severely reducing his pace and ultimately leaving him to simply circulate and collect points. Benefiting from Rollinson’s and van der Drift’s troubles, Paddon took the lead; behind him, Ransley stuck on his rear bumper for the remaining of the race and had multiple attempts at gaining the lead but couldn't pass. Michels was rewarded with a podium finish that eventually helped him to move into P2 of the standings.

Race 1
1. Chris van der Drift (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 25 laps
2. Gene Rollinson (Racer Products Team, Hyundai i30 N), 22.013
3. Greg Murphy (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 23.262
4. Lochlainn Fitzgerald-Syme (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 23.441
5. Paul Radisich (M-Developments, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 40.029

Race 2
1. Chris van der Drift (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 26 laps
2. Gene Rollinson (Racer Products Team, Hyundai i30 N), 0.535
3. Greg Murphy (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 11.896
4. Hayden Paddon (Paddon Rallysport Group, Hyundai i30 N), 18.688
5. Jaden Ransley (Jaden Ransley Racing, Hyundai i30 N), 23.852

Race 3
1. Hayden Paddon (Paddon Rallysport Group, Hyundai i30 N), 26 laps
2. Jaden Ransley (Jaden Ransley Racing, Hyundai i30 N), 0.225
3. Jordan Michels (Team Williams Racing, Honda Civic Type R FK7), 12.958
4. Lochlainn Fitzgerald-Syme (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 18.821
5. Chris van der Drift (Track Tek Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 1 lap

Championship points
1. C. van der Drift 199 pts; 2. J. Michels 147; 3. L. Fitzgerald-Syme 147

Picture: Motorsport New Zealand/Geoff Ridder