Header Image: Graham Hughes (Sportsweb Photography)
Sixteen qualifiers for the Global Invitational ‘World 240s’ Superstock Championship finals were found on a night of inclement weather at The Toolshed Paradise Valley Speedway in Rotorua.
With the Bay of Plenty region on the receiving end of stormy conditions during the week, it was somewhat miraculous that a speedway meeting was able to run at all.
Rain had threatened to spoil the evening just as the first round of heat races was set to commence, and umbrellas returned on several occasions over the course of the evening. In particular, the final heats of the Blue and Yellow groups suffered from a wet track as rain fell during each heat.
Fortunately, the heaviest precipitation of the evening only occurred as the crowd dissipated after the racing had wrapped up, and for those on the drive home outside of Rotorua.
This season’s North Island Superstock Championship winner, Scott Tennant, who finished in third place at last season’s World 240s, was the standout driver in the Green group.
Tennant finished in second place in the first race of the night, in third place in the group’s second heat, and finished his evening with a race win in the final heat. His 75 points were the highest of any driver across all qualifying groups.
Aucklander Cody McKee (70 points) was also in top form, moving from grid 12 in the opening heat to finish in sixth, before winning the second heat and sealing his qualification with a fourth place finish in heat three.
Local favourite AJ Axtens (68 points) needed a strong final heat to finish in third overall in the group, and Dale Robertson (66 points) also snuck in after winning a runoff against Caleb Ashton.
First heat winner William Hughes was well placed heading into the final race, but a DNF ruined his chances of a finals berth.
The Blue group saw former three-time New Zealand Superstock Championship winner Asher Rees finish in third, fourth, and first across the three heat races to amass 73 points. Rees was rarely troubled in making his way to the front of the field, despite the strong competition in the group.
Recently crowned New Zealand Superstock champion, Brad Uhlenberg (69 points), began his tenure as 1NZ with a win in the opening Blue group heat race, and he raced sensibly across the rest of the evening to ensure he finished near the top of the group.
Woodford Glen contracted Jayden Ward and Stratford’s Matthew Picard (both with 68 points) had to overcome challenges from Ross Ashby, who won the second heat and was first equal on points before the final heat, and Wellington’s Keegan Levien, who eventually finished a further point back.
In the Red group, Ethan Rees (67 points) made big moves in his opening heat, moving from grid 18 to seventh place. A third and fourth place finish in the remaining heats of the group were easily enough for yet another finals spot for last year’s World 240s runner-up.
Outgoing New Zealand Superstock champion Todd Hemingway (64 points) took full advantage of his front row grid in the opening heat to take the chequered flag, but a spin in the second heat saw him drop down the standings and in a vulnerable position before the final race.
Fortunately for the Mount Maunganui contracted driver, he sliced through the field for another race win. Hemingway tied on overall points with Rotorua’s Alan McRobbie, who was a late re-addition to the field.
Fellow Rotorua driver Brent Stewart (61 points) secured the final qualification spot in the group. After a strong finish to the evening, he moved ahead of Zane Dykstra and Thomas Davis, after their retirements in the third heat, and Ethan Levien, all of whom had recorded higher subtotals than Stewart.
Flynn Ashton won the second heat in the group but it was sandwiched by a pair of DNFs for the youngster.
Finally, the dynamic Dion Henderson (71 points) was the most consistent driver in the Yellow group. Having qualified for his first New Zealand Superstock Championship finals last weekend, Henderson continued his good form with two third placings and a fourth across the three heats in the group.
Peter Rees (66 points) and Kaelin Mooney and William Humphries (both 65 points) overcame a competitive group that saw Baypark’s Dylan Towler win the opening heat and former North Island Superstock Championship winner, Elias Dykstra, take the chequered flag in the second heat.
Mooney’s victory in the final race of the evening was critical in elevating the Whanganui contracted driver into the top four. William Humphries’ second place in the final heat was also necessary to propel the new 3NZ into the finals.
A “last chance” repechage at the start of finals night will find the last three qualifiers.
Today’s 16 qualifiers and the top three from the repechage will then join seven pre-qualifiers for the finals.
Those who received automatic qualification include Frankie Wainman Jnr, a three-time former winner of the title. Son Frankie Wainman Jnr Jnr, and compatriots Charlie Sworder and Karl Hawkins join him. Dutch driver Rick Wobbes has also been given a pass through to the final.
As a result of last year’s efforts, defending champion Josh Prentice, and the winner of last year’s second tier event, Whanganui’s Hayden Hart, have been given a golden ticket to the finals.
before three epic heats of racing to determine this year’s World 240s winner.
In the meantime, all eyes will be on the Rotorua weather forecast!
World 240s Finals Qualifiers
| 515GB Frankie Wainman Jnr* | 808C Scott Tennant | 2NZ Ethan Rees |
| 555GB Frankie Wainman Jnr Jnr* | 72A Cody McKee | 99M Todd Hemingway |
| 5GB Charlie Sworder* | 14R AJ Axtens | 94RAlan McRobbie |
| 175GB Karl Hawkins* | 89W Dale Robertson | 9R Brent Stewart |
| 14NL Rick Wobbes* | 126G Asher Rees | 45R Dion Henderson |
| 5G Josh Prentice* | 1NZ Brad Uhlenberg | 10G Peter Rees |
| 166V Hayden Hart* | 971C Jayden Ward | 26V Kaelin Mooney |
| 307S Matthew Picard | 3NZ William Humphries | |
| REPECHAGE 1 TBC | REPECHAGE 2 TBC | REPECHAGE 3 TBC |