NZV8 rookie Matt Lockwood has gained his first podium finish in the class, coming in a well-earned third behind Angus Fogg and Eddie Bell in the final race at Manfeild on Sunday.

Lockwood has only raced two rounds this season and has been the top-finishing rookie at both. He showed determination to finish ahead of John McIntyre and Craig Baird in the 22-lap feature race.

After being jostled off the track early in the first race and losing his power steering in the second, Lockwood’s finishes belied the fact he was circulating with lap times good enough for a top ten result.

The newcomer started eighth in the final race, made it to third position by turn one and was second behind Fogg before the first lap was over. Bell, who Lockwood had passed in lap one, passed him back in lap seven. Lockwood then held his ground as Baird and McIntyre tried in vain to get through. The rookie finished a comfortable third in his Modulock Portable Buildings Falcon.

“I am rapt with the result,” Lockwood said. “To hold off Baird and McIntyre for a podium finish in my second NZV8 drive is the highlight of my career to date. We’ve got a really great team and I’ve got to thank them, and my sponsors, for their support,” he said. “To finish ninth overall for the weekend after racing only two rounds is better than we ever imagined.”

Lockwood has a busy racing programme between now and the final NZV8 meeting at Taupo in March. He has two Mazda Pro7Plus meetings, where he is defending his championship title, and he will race a V8 Ute at the Clipsal 500 as part of their 10-year anniversary. The “Legends of Motor Racing” line-up for this event includes a dozen past and present Supercar drivers, and Lockwood feels privileged to be offered a spot as the youngest “legend” at this event. He then races his championship-winning Holden Ute at the Hamilton 400 Trans-Tasman Challenge in April.

Media: Lindsay Beer Photo: SportProMedia