Chris Pither 'The Doctor' is the 2009/2010 V8 Utes Champion after a top performance at the final round of the series at Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.

Pither had arrived at the South Canterbury circuit with a 40 point lead over the defending champion and closest rival Caine Lobb "The Ginja Ninja" of Whangarei. Pither began the weekend in great style on Saturday when he took his ENZED Falcon to pole position followed by two races wins. He sealed the title today when he finished second behind Lobb and his Mark Cromie Holden in the first race of the day. The race was a reverse of the marble draw grid from the day before and Pither of Palmerston North had to come from near the back of the grid. He was in second place after three laps and crossed the line just .391 of a second behind Lobb, the result good enough to ensure himself of the championship.

Pither then finished the series with a flourish when he won the final race from Lobb. 'The Doctor' also lowered the lap record in each of todays races to beat the mark he had set yesterday. 

Pither who has raced in Australia for several seasons in Australian V8 Utes, the V8 Supercar Development Series and V8 Supercars was "stoked" with the championship victory. "The guys put in a big effort and we had a flawless run. I'm rapt."

Lobb finished runner- up in the championship 48 points behind the 23-year-old Pither.

Rookie Simon Grace of Christchurch came into the final round third in the points but had a diabolical run in Sundays two races allowing fellow Cantabrian 62-year-old Graham Beirne 'Snr Burner' to pass his points tally and take third place on the championship podium. Beirne drove superbly all weekend in his John Jones Steel Falcon accumulating a third, two fourths and a fifth placing. Beirne began eating into Grace's points margin on Saturday and then moved ahead on Sunday. Grace, who had a superb rookie season in his Wunderfloor Commodore ended the series fourth overall.

The NZV8 Utes Series enjoys support from corporate partners, ENZED, Radio Hauraki and Yokohama for this season while the NZV8 Utes are managed by category manager, Jamie Kett of Event 1.