Penn's three GP titles a first

Shane Penn finally put a disastrous season behind him at Arena Manawatu on Saturday night when he became the first person to win the New Zealand Superstock Grand Prix title three times.

There was loads of attrition in the first of three final heats as 30 cars took the start, but only 20 finished.

Penn put himself in a great position to take the Palmerston North PartsWorld grand prix after coming from last on the grid in the opening heat, gaining an impressive 21 places to finish ninth. Fourth in the next heat left the Palmerston North Panthers' driver in third place overall going into the last heat.

Penn's new tri-rail, with the new Hartley Nissan engine, hasn't been as dominant as his previous car, the Tony McLanachan-built "Silver Bullet', especially on the corners.

Penn, though, is sure his new machine will be equally as good once the minor gremlins are sorted.

Penn almost came to a sticky end in the final heat when promising newcomer Dale Robertson (Wellington) sent him spinning into the wall. Fortunately for Penn, although he lost several places he restarted and went on to win the title by three points from Nelson Tigers' duo Shane Harwood and Dale Ewers.

A spectacular attack on Ewers on the final lap of the four-lap runoff gave Harwood second place.

Tank commander Scott Miers has hardly raced this year, but he got better as qualifying went along on Friday night, then did the same on Saturday. Miers looked headed for this place overall until he misjudged a corner and spun.

The spin was good news for Penn with Miers then firing points leader Darren Gray (Wellington) into the wall.

Gray wobbled back out on to the racing line and rolled new points leader, Murray Long (Hawke's Bay).

Miers had previously rolled Brad Ridland (Kihikihi) and Christchurch driver Neil Frew.

Frews' roll was scary, as his helmet came off, and rolled 30 metres down the track.

However, to the relief of all, he emerged from his car perfectly all right, though a little shocked.

Miers then took out new national champion Brendan Higgins, while Wayne Hemi and Simon Joblin forced other contenders, Harwood and Steve Guilford, to lose places and vital points.

Dave Tarrant had his best finish at a major event, ending up fifth behind Guilford.

He might have finished second, but a spin in the second heat cost him at least 10 places.

It was a good night for Palmerston North's Declan Roe as he gave locals their best finish yet at a major minisprint event, finishing second behind NZ2 Daniel Thomas (Huntly), with another Huntly driver, Dayne Maxwell, third in the Roskilda Autos North Island championships.

Roe was outstanding, winning the first heat off the front and then did well to work his way through traffic in the next two heats without ever looking likely to threaten Thomas.

Everyone has been talking about Christian Hermansen from the time he dominated youth ministocks and then the adult class.

Those doubters who wondered whether he could step up in the minisprints would have been silenced after he finished fifth overall at just his second meeting. Gavin Lucas was sixth.

- © Fairfax NZ News