Words: Colin Smith
Images: Legaspeed Multimedia (Maru Goodley)
Auckland racer Ben Harding drove himself into a familiar position during the opening night of the Bin Hire Co. New Zealand Super Saloon Car Championship at Napier’s Meeanee Speedway on Friday night.
Just as he did at Baypark Speedway during the 2025 title, Harding holds the points lead after the first night of the championship
Harding drove to a win and a second placing during the rain-shortened opening night.
Several of the six qualifying races completed last night were raced in light drizzle before heavier rain brought the meeting to an early close.
An earlier Saturday start time of 5 pm will see the third round of heat races added to the start of the programme.
Harding won his opening heat with Hawke’s Bay racer Steve Flynn on his rear bumper for most of the 12-lapper. And in his second start Harding chased race winner Damian Orr (Rotorua) to the finish in Heat 5.
Harding is the points leader on 27 ahead of Orr (with a third and a win) on 26.
Two-time champ Brent Emerson (Tauranga) made a solid start with a fourth and a win to score 25 points, while a second and fourth puts former champ Chris Cowling (Tauranga) next on 24 and tied with Kevin Martin, who is the best-placed of the Hawke’s Bay local hopes.
Defending champ Mark Osborne (Christchurch) started deep with grid 14, and grid 11 starts on Friday night. He finished fifth in his opening race and leapt from fifth to third in the final corner of heat six, and has 22 points with much better starting positions ahead of him.
The heat race winners were Grant Flynn, Harding, and Craig Cardwell in round one while round two was a Baypark clean sweep for Emerson, Orr and Trent Amein.
A four-way tie on 21pts sees Jakob Flynn, Ashton Osborne and Manawatu racers Peter Bengston and Brendan Sharland in a tight battle.
The rain after two rounds proved to be something of a fortunate beak for former champ Steve Flynn (Hawke’s Bay). He finished second in Heat 2 pressuring Harding but was a non-finisher with oil pressure issues next time out in heat 4.
An overnight engine change will have Flynn back in action on Saturday evening and still in the chase with 19pts.
Top point scorers (after heat 6 of 15)
1 Ben Harding 24A, 27pts
2 Damian Orr 94M, 26pts
3 Brent Emerson 7M, 25pts
4= Chris Cowling 2NZ, 24pts
4= Kevin Martin 92B, 24pts
6 Mark Osborne 1NZ, 22pts
7= Jakob Flynn 871C, 21pts
7= Brendan Sharland 44P, 21pts
7= Peter Bengston 58P, 21pts
7= Ashton Osborne 76C, 21pts
11 Craig Cardwell 8A, 20pts
12= Steve Flynn 5B, 19pts
12= Thomas Stanaway 87B, 19pts
12= Grant Flynn 6B, 19pts