Mitch Sparrow goes from pole to race one win.
- Glenn Churches
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Mitch Sparrow set the fastest time in Qualifying in the morning, and then backed it up with a thrilling Race One win in the V8 Utes at Taupo. Glen Collinson fought fiercely in 2nd but couldn’t bridge to deficit to Mitch, unleashing fastest lap of the race but to no avail. Less than 2 seconds further back, Brad Kroef kept ahead of Peter Ward during an intense 10-lap battle. Here’s how the action unfolded.
For the morning’s qualifying session, overnight rain meant the track was cool but Mitch Sparrow was on fire posting the fastest lap for his first ever Core V8 Utes pole. Glen Collinson was right on the pace around 1.7 secs behind in 2nd, while Peter Ward was right at home back in his Holden ute posting 3rd fastest lap.
On the Qualifying podium flanked by two absolute legends of V8 Utes racing, Mitch confessed “The ute is an absolute rocketship,” as he thanked ‘Stoneman Race Tech’ for the ute’s preparation. “I’m just having fun driving it.”
Current V8 Utes series champion Glen Collinson said, after qualifying 2nd, “Credit where credit’s due, Mitch’s pace was in a league of his own,” the seasoned veteran acknowledging Mitch’s talent. Peter Ward, making a welcomed return to his Holden ute after several seasons racing a TA2 said, “I was hoping for a top 5 finish, so 3rd is better than expected.”
As for the rest of the field, barely a second separated positions 4th to 8th, such is the closeness of competition - setting the scene for some ultra-close racing in the afternoon.
As for the rest of the field, with barely second separating positions 4th to 8th, Race One in the afternoon was destined to be a slug-fest of close racing. It didn’t disappoint.
When the lights went out, Glen Collinson moved across on Mitch, and the entered turn one two-wide, but Mitch didn’t flinch. In positions 3 and 4 behind them, Brad Kroef slid alongside Peter Ward into the corner - Brad prevailed out of the corner. Daniel Ludlam wasn’t quite as quick, stalling on the line with a quick-reacting Phill Ross narrowly avoiding Daniel’s rear.
As the laps wore on, Glen Collinson clung onto Mitch Sparrow like a limpet, but the youngster wasn’t intimidated by the wily veteran. Glen unleashed a 1.43.037 fastest lap of the race, but it wasn’t enough. Mitch kept stretching his lead to almost 3 secs. by lap six. At the chequered flag, Mitch prevailed in the David vs Goliath battle, earning his 2nd race win and massive respect from the entire field. Similarly Brad Kroef was pursued by another former champion Peter Ward, but Brad the 2-time champion held his nerve - and his 3rd place.
The midfield battles were just as exciting, Paul Fougere propelling himself from starting 8th to 6th by mid race, only to miss a gear and lose his place to Stu Monteith.
With the performances of Mitch Sparrow adding real depth to a field of multiple champions all duking it out for series points, the V8 Utes are alive and thriving.
QUALIFYING | UTE | BEST LAP | |
1st | Mitch Sparrow | Holden | 1.42.267 |
2nd | Glen Collinson | Ford | 1.43.984 |
3rd | Peter Ward | Holden | 1.44.320 |
4th | Brad Kroef | Ford | 1.44.625 |
5th | Daniel Ludlam | Holden | 1.44.646 |
6th | Greg Kroef | Ford | 1.44.726 |
7th | Phill Ross | Holden | 1.45.459 |
8th | Paul Fougere | Holden | 1.45.687 |
9th | Stu Monteith | Holden | 1.45.947 |
10TH | Blair Gribble-Bowring | Ford | 1.46.163 |
11TH | Geoff Spencer | Holden | 1.46.864 |
RACE ONE | UTE | MARGIN | |
1st | Mitch Sparrow | Holden |
|
2nd | Glen Collinson | Ford | +2.871 |
3rd | Brad Kroef | Ford | +4.568 |
4th | Peter Ward | Holden | +5.773 |
5th | Greg Kroef | Ford | +20.317 |
6th | Phill Ross | Holden | +26.816 |
7th | Blair Gribble-Bowring | Ford | +29.793 |
8th | Stu Monteith | Holden | +32.285 |
9th | Paul Fougere | Holden | +33.138 |
10TH | Geoff Spencer | Holden | +33.654 |
11TH | Daniel Ludlam | Holden | +35.159 |
Comments