Bamber closes gap in Toyota Racing Series

A new lap record wasn't enough for Mitch Evans to prevent Earl Bamber closing down the gap in the Toyota Racing Series in the opening race of the final round at Taupo today.

Bamber started from pole position, narrowly fended off a first corner challenge from Evans and then controlled the gap throughout the 12 laps to win by 0.6 seconds from his younger rival.

It was Bamber's fourth win of the season and brought the Wanganui 19-year-old within 26 points of Evans, who has won three races this year but none of the last six.

In contrast, Bamber's victory came straight on top of his win in the New Zealand grand prix at Manfeild. It was Bamber's 14th win in series since 2007 and reduced his deficit to Evans by eight points.

However, Evans' consistency throughout the season may well pay off in the two races that complete the season tomorrow.

After today's 13th race of the season Evans has 788 points and Bamber 762.

No other driver is in contention for the title so Evans could win it by finishing second to Bamber in both of tomorrow's races.

Upsetting that calculation could well be the starting format for tomorrow's final race. The finishing order in the 20-lap Denny Hulme Memorial Race in the morning will determine the grid for the 16th and final race of the season, where the top six line up in reverse order.

Today's opening race at Taupo was all down to the start. Bamber had upstaged Evans during the morning qualifying, setting a stunning pole time that denied Evans the top spot for the first time all season.

Starting from the outside of the front row, Evans looked to have got away better, until Bamber quickly recovered.

"It wasn't a good start for me," Bamber said.

"I was worried about creeping forwards and then had to raise the revs to get off the line. Mitch came across hard but it was fair."

Bamber had to put a wheel into the dust on the inside line but held his nerve and took the corner in a well-judged move.

"Mitch kept the pressure up but I was trying to conserve my tyres for the Sunday races. The balance wasn't quite as good as it had been in qualifying. I wasn't as fast as Mitch but I knew I had enough to win."

Evans and Bamber both bettered the old lap record, Evans taking it down to one minute 24.58sec on his penultimate lap, nearly half a second under the previous best.

Behind the two title contenders, Palmerston North's Sam MacNeill finished a solid third but was 8.8sec behind. Jamie McNee, of Wellington, scored his best result of the season with a steady fourth.

Auckland driver Andrew Waite was fifth, mindful of maintaining his third placing in the overall series.

- NZPA