Brake failure wrecks Bailey's title hopes

Manawatu's Ryan Bailey lost his chance of winning the national BMW MINI Challenge after a brake failure disrupted his qualifying during the final round in Taupo during the weekend.

Bailey's brake failure meant that he was able to race only 41 laps in the warmup and he qualified sixth.

He finished fourth in the first race, third in the second and second in the third. He completed the fastest lap in his last race and missed out on the title by 13 points, after leading by 13 heading into the weekend.

Matthew Hamilton won the competition after trailing Bailey going into the final round.

"He just pipped me at the end," Bailey said.Bramwell King, who competes in the Suzuki Swift Sports Cup competition, finished fourth in his first race at Taupo, last in his second due to a problem with his fan belt, and third in the final race.

King was penalised 50 seconds after a collision with another car. He finished 11th on the overall standings on 612 points with William Bamber taking out the competition on 1128.

King will be racing Suzukis at the V8 Supercars in Hamilton in April to finish his season.

Sam McNeill entered the Toyota Racing Series in a new team and a different car, but still finished third and fourth in the first two races at Taupo.

He was set for a similar position in the third before a collision with another car caused him to finish seventh.

He was given the chance to race for the ETEC motorsport team after their driver pulled out.

McNeill was pleased with his third and fourth placings.

"We were actually quite fast."

McNeill also had trouble with the brakes, so he was unable to practice, but still managed to qualify third after new brake pads were put in.

McNeill said the competition was tough and Earl Bamber and Mitch Evans, who were going for the championship, were a class above.

"It was sort of trying to race for third," McNeill said.

Toyota are trying hard crack into the Australian racing market by May and if they do McNeill may go with them. Matt Lockwood had a mixed bag in his NZ V8s competition on Saturday at Taupo.

He started well, but only qualified 18th in a strong field. He finished fifth in the first race, and second in the third, but in the second race his axle blew on the first corner so he didn't finish.

In two weeks, he will be racing the Mazda Pro 7 in Taupo, which his team is leading, and then will be racing at the Hamilton 400.

- © Fairfax NZ News