There was no clear winner at the weekend when defending ENZED V8 Ute Racing champion Caine Lobb went up against current points leader Chris Pither at the brand new circuit of Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, south of Auckland.

The pair finished the weekend with two race wins apiece and left the spectacular modern circuit with a status quo in the series standings with just 40 points between the two before heading to the South Island for the penultimate and final rounds of the season next month.

Where either of the two did not win the race, they instead placed second with the exceptional drivers battling each other to the chequered flag and leaving the remainder of the V8 ute drivers behind.

Although both took an equal number of points and placings from the meeting, Palmerston North's Chris Pither was awarded the round win. This came down to a series ruling where it was deemed that the winner of the final race was awarded the round win after there was no clear victor.

Whangarei's Caine Lobb and Pither both took two wins and two second places each from the four races earning the same amount of points. They remain 40 points apart in the series with Pither currently leading but with another eight races left to run.

Lobb impressed the crowd when in race three he started the Mark Cromie Holden Race Team Commodore from on the back row and moved up through the pack to take his second race win of the weekend.

"In the third race I went from the back to the front in what was the race of the season for me I think - apparently I passed four cars before the start line, we are getting some really awesome starts from the car now and Chris hasn't pipped me from the line once yet." said Lobb.

The victory was also the 21 year old's 60th career race win.

In the final race of the weekend Lobb led the field through the first couple of laps before Pither was able to get ahead and into the lead.

This race included a compulsory pit stop and as Lobb prepared to enter the tight pitlane he narrowly escaped what could have been a nasty incident.

Nearly putting the race car into the wall at the pit entry Lobb saved it at the last moment but had to go around the circuit once more after losing a great deal of pace and time when slowing down on the long front straight of Hampton Downs.

"In the final race the car went away a bit because it was so hot and I was struggling for grip - coming into the pit entry I came in too hot, locked up a wheel and had to go around and do another lap - I lost about six or seven seconds but luckily still managed to finish in second place so it was all good." he said.

Lobb won race two and three placing second in races one and four. He currently has 416 points to Chris Pither's 456 with 312 maximum points up for grabs over the final eight races of this season.

This was the first visit to the new circuit of Hampton Downs Motorsport Park for the ENZED V8 Ute Series which only opened in January this year, the drivers and spectators alike clearly enjoyed the experience.

"It's an awesome track I love it and it's so smooth, a great surface and plenty of elevation." said Lobb.

Next up for the series are rounds five and six both held back to back in the South Island.

Firstly is round five at the Powerbuilt International Raceway, Ruapuna just outside of Christchurch on 19-21st March 2010.

The weekend after is round six held at Timaru International Motor Raceway on 26-28th March 2010.

"I'm quietly confident going into the South Island and looking forward to the next round at Ruapuna where I hope we can beat him (Pither) - hopefully we can do as well as we did last year."

Last season Lobb won seven out of eight races at the two circuits eventually winning the series at Teretonga Park, Invercargill shortly afterwards - this year there will be no round at Teretonga.

However, after the 2009-10 series wraps up the action just gets underway again when the ENZED V8 Utes contest the first ever Trans Tasman Test where they will go head to head against 16 drivers from the sister series in Australia.

The Aussies will travel to New Zealand where the 32 roaring V8 utes will contest the 'TTT' as a support class for the V8 Supercar Championship at the ITM 400 in Hamilton on the 16-18th of April 2010.

Media: Iain Whitaker