McIntyre takes first NZV8 race win in Hamilton

John McIntyre scored the 49th win of his NZV8 touring car career on the streets of Hamilton during the second day of the ITM400 V8 Supercar event this weekend.

“I’m really stoked to get the win, and the car’s really good. On a circuit like this, with concrete barriers and intense competition, it’s about not making any mistakes,” says ‘Johnny Mac’ who started third.

“I got carved up into the first corner, and was pushed back into fourth by Andy Knight. Tim Edgell and Kayne Scott had the lead and it took three laps to get passed Andy at turn one, so they had a bit of gap on me. I managed to catch them up, then with three laps to go, Tim’s brakes went and Kayne went into turn one too deep and I managed to get passed them both to lead for the final two laps.”

The win puts McIntyre on pole for the NZV8’s second race of the weekend at 9:15am on Sunday.

The NZV8 races in Hamilton are non-championship races, with competitors contesting a one-off trophy with their three races. The weekend’s final NZV8 race, of 16 laps at 3:15pm, has the starting order determined by the finishing places in race two, not the usual NZV8 reverse grid format.

“This is John McIntyre Racing’s 28th race victory as a team, so I’m delighted for the whole team to score another win.

“The small changes to the circuit haven’t really provided the passing opportunity we expected, so I’m looking forward to being on pole tomorrow and having the advantage of a clear track.

McIntyre will be joined on the front row of the grid by Scott, the only other NZV8 driver to have won races on the Hamilton circuit.

McIntyre extends his thanks to Talley's, Castrol Edge, Protector Safety, Prime Explosives, Amcor Packaging, Ford NZ, The Rock FM, Ideal Electrical, Websters Hydrated Lime, Avon City Ford, BP Ultimate, Dynamic Fluid Systems, Speedshow, Cookes Wirerope, Colorfast Signs, Squawking Magpie Wines, City Collision Repairs Napier, NZ Ceiling, Drywall Supplies and Uniden for their support of John McIntyre Racing.

overage of the ITM400, including the NZV8s, screens on TV3 from midday to 6pm, both Saturday 17 April and Sunday 18 April.