California's Jonathan Allard won the Wynns New Zealand Grand Prix at Western Springs Speedway on Saturday night (Jan. 16). It was the popular American's fourth feature win at Western Springs this summer.

Another fantastic crowd were on hand to watch the outlaw style format, starting with a two-lap time trial. Baypark’s Colin Entwistle stopped the clock with a blistering 12.021second lap, followed by fellow Baypark driver Rodney Wood on 12.138. Allard timed third fastest with a 12.222 second lap.

The first heat was won by another one of the American's Ricky Logan, followed by Jeremy Halpin and Mark Browne. Heat two saw Auckland's Daniel Eggleton get the jump on defending NZ GP Champion Skinny Colson and totally dominate. Eight-times NZ Champ Alan Wakeling was third. The third and final heat was taken out by another former NZ Champ Jamie McDonald, but the battle behind for the minor positions was between Glen Torpey, Allard and Ryan O’Conner. Allard eventually finished second after a big slide job going into turn three on Torpey, who was also passed for third by O’Conner.

Each of the top four from the heats then faced each other in the dash to set the top twelve grid positions for the final. This was won by Allard, with Entwistle second, Wood third, and Logan in fourth. Allard would start the Wynns New Zealand Sprintcar Grand Prix from pole.

Current NZ Champ Dean Brindle won the 'B' main from Carl Wilson, both with some work to do for the final after the time trials and the heats.

Allard got the jump into the lead for the twenty-five lap NZ GP feature right from the start on a fast, smooth track that provided multiple lanes for passing. Wilson spun to the infield on the first lap, while Baypark’s Kerry Bartlett and Auckland's Jeremy Halpin also spun onto the infield a lap later.  Rodney Wood ran wide to give Logan the pass and the opportunity to chase Allard for the lead. There were battles behind the leading group between Wakeling, McDonald, O’Conner, Entwistle and Brindle. With five laps to go O’Conner overcooked it going into turn three, spinning and bringing on the first caution. Notably on the night there were only three yellow flags over all of the classes and races. Off the restart, Allard got away from Logan again to claim the 2009/10 Wynn’s New Zealand Sprintcar Grand Prix, followed home by Logan and first Kiwi home, Tauranga’s Rodney Wood. McDonald finished fourth with Wakeling fifth. Entwistle, Brindle, Browne, Colson, and Torpey completed the top ten.

Sean Rose bounced back from his huge opening night crash that all but destroyed his #66 TQ, to win an entertaining TQ feature. With some of the Auckland regulars away for the rain delayed NZ Championships in Christchurch, the slightly smaller than usual lineup was inverted for the feature race. TQ Track Championship points leader Ross Linklater provided much of the action, charging from the back, only to retire just after the halfway point in the race with mechanical issues. Rose won from TQ rookie Kaz Townsend and Karl Linklater.

NZ Midget Champion Shane Alach won his first Midget feature of the season at Western Springs, holding off five-times NZ Champ Michael Kendall for the win. Kendall continued on with his great form lately, after a podium finish in the prestigious 50 Lapper the week before. The 25-lap race went green to chequer with no yellow flags. Alach reset Michael Pickens' 2006 25-lap track record from 6 minutes and 18 seconds to 6.10.205. Waikato's Michael Brunt was third ahead of Hayden Williams, Bill Clarkson, and Chris McCutcheon. Williams jumped into Nick Cassidy's F2 midget for the night as well, and won the F2 feature, with Cassidy away in the South Island racing in the NZ Formula Ford Championships.

For a full list of results for the 09/10 Ampro Tools Season at Western Springs including the above meeting, check out www.mylaps.com, and look for WSS Meeting results in the Car Racing Section.

The next meeting at Western Springs Speedway is on Saturday night February 13, featuring the Auckland Championships for the TQ, Midget, and Sprintcar classes.

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