Eight times New Zealand Sprint Car Champion Alan Wakeling’s performance last night at Western Springs proved that old dogs can still learn new tricks. On a freshly laid and re-shaped Western Springs track Wakeling quickly found the ideal car set-up and fast lines despite finishing only one of his heat races.

An absolutely brilliant drive from 17th position on the start grid saw Wakeling charge through the entire field to take out the win in last night’s Western Springs $20,000 30 lap International feature race. Wakeling passed a car per lap in the first 5 laps of the season’s biggest Sprint Car feature at the Springs before settling into a rhythm that put him into 5th place by lap 15, the halfway point, of the race.

“The car was set up perfectly and felt just right on the new track” said the veteran Western Springs racer “We had a difficult start to the season but seem to have found the right set-up and got rid of the initial engine gremlins that gave us so much grief early on.”

Former Australian Champion Robbie Farr was top qualifier and started the feature from pole position. Farr looked unbeatable over the first 9 laps and set the fastest time of the race (13.227seconds) in lap 2. In lap 10 Farr came up against lap traffic and as he attempted to pass his team mate and car owner, Phillip Game, the slower car turned in and Farr had nowhere to go but into the side of Game’s 77 car putting an early end to the Australian’s race.

American legend Jimmy Sills now moved into second spot where he looked like staying until the other super quick Aussie, Max Dumesny, started putting pressure on and eventually overtook the US veteran on lap 18. Dumesny’s lead was also short lived as another lapped car spun and stopped the flying Australian.

Dumesny re-started off the rear and charged through the field to finish a creditable 5th behind Hamilton’s Greg Pickerill. Multiple New Zealand Champion, Kerry Jones, drove a fast and consistent race to finish  on the podium and spent 3 laps in 2nd spot until the flying Wakeling passed him on his way to the win.

Sills took over the lead from Dumesny and stayed there until the last lap when a mistake in the exit of Pinetree bend allowed Wakeling to pass him for the win and claim the $7000 winners cheque.

“That was a $3000 mistake” said the philosophical Sills “I thought I had it in the bag and that slip up let him blow by me. I had a great car tonight and that shouldn’t have happened but that’s racing."

Craig Dollansky, the other US star on his third trip Downunder this season, had a nightmare run leading up to the feature race and was pushing through the field after a 12th place start on the grid when he was unlucky to get caught up in an accident involving young NZ star Jamie McDonald. Mcdonald flipped his Sprint Car and was airborne as Dollansky ran underneath him. The Kiwi landed in the front of the American’s car badly damaging the wing. Dollansky restarted with a severely crumpled top wing but was forced to retire after only 3 more laps due to handling problems.

Aucklander Ossie Sokol passed Tauranga driver Dean Brindle to take 6th place ahead of Havard Daniels who finished in 8th spot.

The Springs National Championship points competition has just intensified with Wakeling grabbing 20 points ahead of another DNF for arch rival Jamie McDonald. The final round of the National Series takes place next Saturday at the Springs on the 4th March.

Top 8 finishers - International 30 Lap Feature Race

Finish              Name                          Country          

1.         Allan Wakeling                      NZ

2.         Jimmy Sills                            USA

3.         Kerry Jones                           NZ                  

4.         Greg Pickerill                         NZ

5.         Max Dumesny                        AUS

6.         Ossie Sokol                           NZ

7.         Dean Brindle                         NZ                  

8.         Havard Daniels                     NZ                  

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