Albany Toyota driver, Haydn Mackenzie, showed significant improvement at the Manfeild round of the BTNZV8s championship, running in the top ten consistently through the weekend, until being spun off the track early in the last reverse grid race.

Mackenzie had been running very well in the first part of the three-part qualifying session, but in the second part dropped back to be twelfth in the difficult and worsening weather conditions. The third top-ten shootout session was cancelled, so Mackenzie started the first race on grid 12.

Mackenzie then drove well in the first race on Sunday, keeping out of the biff and bash in front of him, and finished ninth. It was a similar story in the second closely fought race where he finished tenth.

For the third reverse grid start race, Mackenzie had to try to force his way through the slower cars in front of him, but in so doing was hit from behind and spun into the dirt on the outside of Toyota corner at the end of the front straight. Fortunately he was able to get back on the track and was quickly making up ground, moving through the backmarkers, when his brake pedal went to the floor, so he then dropped back and finished 17th.

“I was very pleased with our improved performance this weekend at Manfeild, for which I have to thank my hard-working Albany Toyota team. It was our aim for this weekend to get inside the top ten and we largely achieved that. Now I am looking forward to the final round of the championship at Taupo on March 20-21, where I am sure we can improve even further.

“I would also especially like to thank my sponsors and supporters who have helped me during this season: Albany Toyota, Albany Village Firestone, Bartercard, Cadrona Hotel Wanaka, Wurth NZ, Century Equipment, and Outlaw Industries,” said Mackenzie.

Mackenzie has now improved to 12th position overall in the championship.

 Photo: SportProMedia