Hard charging Nelson offroad racer Nevil Basalaj had an easy ride to maximum points in his four races at West Melton on Saturday as part of a six-way tiue for maximum points.
Driving his American-built Jimco Chev two-seater race car, Basalaj was only challenged in his class by fellow Nelsonian Cam Stratford, and when Stratford was sidelined halfway through the final 15-lap race the big American car was dominant.
Basalaj has the championship title in his sights and now leads the Achilles-Radial-backed unlimited class for the South Island.
His only issue throughout the day was a torn rubber ‘boot’ on the car’s right side drive shaft. Basalaj’s aggressive style saw him shoulder his way past six other cars in the last heat, which is an ‘all-in” feature-style race designed to provide spectacular action for racegoers. Contact made with cars in that final heat saw him cautioned after the racing and issued with a licence demerit.
Also taking maximum points was Christchurch driver Owen Chang, the defending national champion.
The team have rebuilt the turbo engine of their GT Radial Ford Falcon following a head gasket issue at the opening round over Easter Weekend, redeveloping the power profile of the four cylinder twincam unit. They also took the opportunity to uprate the truck’s wheels and tyre specification to take advantage of the additional power the truck now develops.
In unlimited class 8, Chang faced the Nissan V8 truck of Dunedin’s Carl Gardner, the Nissan Navara V8 of Andrew Johnstone (making its first appearance at a southern round of the championship) and the V6 truck of James Fleming.
But across the four heats the light and powerful Chang Falcon made short work of the opposition, sprinting into the lead from the start and dominating each race. Gardiner’s challenge was short-lived, the big truck smashing its front wheels off over the first jump in heat one. Andrew Johnstone was slowed by fuel issues in the final heat.
The other drivers who scored maximum points in the heats were Wayne Moriarty (Christchurch, class three for cars with engines up to 1.6 litres); Joel Green (class five for cars with engines up to 1.3 litres); Steven Boyd (production trucks) and Rob Palmer (Challenger class for cars with 1.6-litre VW engines).
Roger McKay traveled south from Taupo and shared the wins in the Polaris-backed U class, taking two heats and finishing second behind Tim George in the other two.
Damian Halliday won the final heat of the Polaris-backed class 10 (for motorcycle-engined cars), denying Rosco Gaudin a clean sweep.
Jorja Storer took out the Kiwitruck youth category with two wins and a second place ahead of her sister Brooke.
Fastest lap of the day went to Wayne Moriarty in the Euroblast Alumicraft single-seater. He recorded a 54.689 second lap midway through the final all-in race. At last year’s event, top times were all around the one minute area.
The next round of the 2015 ENZED Offroad Racing Championship is the Nelson Ruff’n’Tuff endurance race on July 25.
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