Auckland TQ ‘Young Gun’ Shane O’Connor won the prestigious ‘0800 JUMPME’ NZ TQ Championships at Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night (Feb. 28). He led home a stellar field of nearly forty TQ drivers from all over New Zealand, in what had to be one of the most competitive line-ups seen for many years at a NZ TQ title. Fellow Aucklanders Hayden Williams and Brock Maskovich finished second and third, for an Auckland 1-2-3 result.

O’Connor’s win maintained the domination that Western Springs Speedway registered drivers have had over the three open wheel NZ Championships (TQ’s, Midgets, and Sprintcars) over the last twenty years. O’Connor went two places better than his third place finish last season, and joined his younger brother Ryan as a NZ TQ Champion. Ryan won the title in 2007, and with Shane’s win in 2009, it’s the first time two brothers have won the NZ TQ Championships.

On a busy night which also featured the 2009 NZ Midget Grand Prix, the large crowd at The Springs were treated to some amazing action in the heats, highlighted by some close wheel to wheel action and many crashes, with most of those coming from the second TQ group. The track was tough early on but after some trackwork during the night, it was much better for the races later on, with multiple lanes at both ends of the Western Springs Speedway quarter mile.

The entries were seeded and split into two groups for the qualifying heats. Former National Champion Paul Le Cren won the first heat for the Classic Hits group, from Lawrence Baker, and four-time NZ Minisprint Champion Shaun Cooke. Hayden Williams won a crash marred first heat for the Radio Hauraki group, followed by Shane O’Connor, and Christchurch’s Ricky Brett. Brock Maskovich won the second heat for the Classic Hits group, ahead of current 2NZ Craig Todd and Le Cren. Auckland’s Ross Linklater won the final Radio Hauraki group qualifying heat from Ricky Brett and O’Connor. Le Cren was the top qualifier for the Classic Hits group, while O’Connor topped the Hauraki group, with O’Connor starting from pole for the 20 Lap NZ TQ Championship final.

Gisborne’s Michael Aulding claimed the win in the last chance repecharge, ahead of Christchurch’s Jeremy Webb, and Auckland’s Gina Harris. It was a good effort from Harris after a massive crash in her first heat. The hard luck story though had to go to Anton Johnson, after his engine expired within 50 meters of the chequered flag in the repecharge while in the fourth and final qualifying position. This meant that twenty-three TQ’s would start the final.

After a lap one crash from the start claimed Shaun Cooke and Lawrence Baker, and John Hopewell, the original grids restart saw an enthralling race go the distance from green to chequer over 20 laps. O’Connor controlled the pace out front, with the chasing cars battling each other for the minor positions. Track Champion Brock Maskovich was storming from grid fifteen into contention, while Williams, Le Cren, Brett, Craig Todd, and Duane Todd chased down the leader.

O’Connor held on for a popular win, followed by Williams, and a charging Maskovich for an Auckland trifecta. Ricky Brett finished fourth, followed by Le Cren, Craig Todd, Duane Todd, Michael Aulding, Dylan McGregor, and Jeremy Webb.

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