MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/STUFF
Ryan Marsden won the NZ Saloon Car speedway title in Christchurch on Sunday.
Geraldine’s Ryan Marsden has gone from being a South Island champion to a national champion in a matter of weeks.
Marsden was crowned the New Zealand Saloon Car champion at his home track, Woodford Glen Speedway, in Christchurch on Sunday night, after winning the South Island title in Cromwell early in December.
There were 52 entrants at the championships, the most for any New Zealand saloon car speedway event.
[embedded content]
Having raced saloon cars for a decade, winning the national title was Marsden’s most distinguished effort.
Conditions were trying in Christchurch. The event was originally meant to take place on Friday and Saturday, but with rain washing out Friday’s qualifiers, they instead took place on Saturday, with the finals taking place on Sunday.
“It was weird really,” Marsden said.
MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/STUFF
Marsden said winning the title was “awesome”.
“It [the weekend] never felt like it flowed very nice.”
With conditions improving on Saturday, Marsden won two of his three qualifiers, advancing him to Sunday’s finals.
Finishing 12th in the first of three final races, Marsden came back to win the second race, meaning it would all come down to the third.
More rain on Sunday saw a delay before the third race could take place.
Marsden said after rain, the track “is like driving on ice,” meaning he would face a huge challenge for the race.
However, he commended the efforts of the team at Woodford Glen Speedway.
“The team up there did an awesome job of getting it [the track] back together.”
Keeping his nose clean, Marsden was able to get himself into second position early on in the race.
He admitted to almost settling for second place.
“A guy from Wellington tried to get underneath and squeeze passed on the inside.”
Marsden decided that wasn’t happening. He went up high on the track, and was able to find some good grip.
He powered around the outside of the other racers, and got in front with two and a half laps to go. It would be a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
He said the crowd gathered at his home track went “ballistic.”
“The crowd were all right behind us.
“The whole grandstand were clapping and cheering.
“It was awesome.”
Marsden admitted a lot of his efforts in Christchurch came down to luck.
“I had a lot of luck this weekend.
“It was good.
“I think a lot of times it’s better to be lucky than good sometimes.”
He looked forward to future meetings and was hoping to debut in the South Island Super Saloon Championships in Blenheim on February 16.
– The Timaru Herald
Source :Stuff.co.nz
Comments
