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New Zealand V8 champion John McIntyre set the fastest time on the brand-new Hamilton street circuit during the official qualifying sessions for the Hamilton 400 trophy race.

With a time of 1:32.1896, McIntyre put the BP Ultimate Ford on pole for the first of three races the New Zealand V8s race in Hamilton as part of the V8 Supercar event.

The New Zealand V8s complete a three-part qualifying process with all 28 competitors running in the first 20 minute session. The fastest 20 drivers then run a 15 minute session and the fastest ten have final 15 minute qualifying period to vie for pole position.

McIntyre was fastest in all three sessions. Lining up beside McIntyre on the front row of the grid will be Havoline Ford driver Angus Fogg, McIntyre’s closest rival in the recently completed championship. Pushing hard in the final session, Fogg spun and did well to keep off the concrete barriers. Having already set his best time, his front row position was safe despite the incident, but it highlighted the challenges faced by the New Zealand V8 drivers in what is the first-ever street race for many.

David Besnard and Paul Radisich, both experienced V8 Supercar drivers, qualified their New Zealand V8 Fords in positions three and four, while team-mates Andy Booth and Paul Manuell are the best of the Holdens in positions five and six. The Fords of Clark Proctor, Luke Youlden and Andrew Porter take the next three slots while Kayne Scott, who’s also racing the Team Kiwi Racing Ford in the V8 Supercar races, didn’t complete any laps in the final qualifying session but will take tenth slot on the grid courtesy of his times in the earlier two sessions.

The New Zealand V8s contest two races on Saturday and one on Sunday, as part of the inaugural Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar event.

ENDS

New Zealand V8s Hamilton 400 trophy race: Qualifying positions

Qualifying position, Driver, Hometown, Car, Qualifying time

1, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon BA, 1:32.1845

2, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon BA, 1:32.9975

3, David Besnard, Gold Coast, Ford Falcon BA, 1:33.0340

4, Paul Radisich, Melbourne, Ford Falcon BA, 1:33.1295

5, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore VZ, 1:33.4017

6, Paul Manuell, Auckland, Holden Commodore VZ, 1:33.4371

7, Clark Proctor, Auckland, Ford Falcon BA, 1:33.6174

8, Luke Youlden, Melbourne, Ford Falcon BA, 1:33.6189

9, Andrew Porter, Auckland, Ford Falcon BA, 1:46.4256

10, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Ford Falcon BA, No time set final session

11, Mark Pedersen, Auckland, Ford Falcon BA, 1:33.9943

12, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon BA, 1:34.2235

13, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore VY, 1:34.2627

15, Dean Perkins, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon BA, 1:34.5109

16, Michael Bristow, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon BA, 1:34.5519

17, Andrew Fawcet, Wellington, Ford Falcon BA, 1:34.8738

18, Inky Tulloch, Gore, Ford Falcon BA, 1:35.3238

19, Connel McLaren, Auckland, Ford Falcon BA, 1:35.4648

20, Cam Hardy, Hamilton, Holden Commodore VZ, No time set final session

21, John Penny, Taupo, Ford Falcon BA, 1:35.4931

22, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon BA, 1:35.5027

23, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon BA, 1:35.5284

24, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore VZ, 1:35.9044

25, Kevin Williams, Auckland, Holden Commodore VZ, 1:36.0715

26, Michael Wallace, Dunedin, Holden Commodore VY, 1:36.6092

27, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore VY, 1:38.2364

28, John Hepburn, Timaru, Holden Commodore VY, 1:39.4967

DNS, Shaun Turton, Pukekohe, Holden Commodore VY