Gridley and Barker earn redemption in Taranaki

Brendon Gridley finished on the podium and won the Masters Trophy. EMILEE JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

After a disappointing end to their South Island Sprint Championship campaigns in Blenheim over Labour weekend, Nelson Karters Brendon Gridley and Kevin Barker were determined to put their results behind them.

After driving stronly and looking likely to grab themselves respective spots on the podium in Blenheim, they both ended up in the tyre wall due to an opening lap incident in the final race.

"We were both very guttered and disappointed not to get a result," Barker said.

But they quickly put that behind them and set a new challenge to go and race in Taranaki for round one of the Bayley's Gold Star Series. Gold Star is a lower North Island series which races over four tracks and has been running for many years. It attracts over 70 karters from all over New Zealand.

Neither driver had contested the Gold Star series before nor ever raced in Taranaki so were excited about the new challenge and keen for redemption.

They got their first look at the track on Saturday and managed to get some practice in before racing got under way on Sunday.

Kevin Barker finished 3rd Overall and 2nd in the Grand Prix. EMILEE JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

"It didn't take us to long to get used to the track. The track is fast and very similar to what we were racing on a few weeks ago in Blenheim," Barker said.

The racing format was made up of five heats and a senior "all-in" Grand Prix at the end of the day.

Both drivers managed to pick up a race win each and didn't fall out of the top three all day. Their pace was also impressive as they were knocking on the track lap record across all five heats. Palmerston North's Ashley Higgins secured the overall win, with Gridley and Barker rounding out the podium.

Gridley also won the Masters Trophy for the weekend after his strong result.

Gridley said: "It's just great to get that monkey off our backs and a great result for us both to bounce back and be on the podium again".

This weekend they will be looking for another strong result when they contest the Nelson club championships in Appleby on Sunday

Article via The Nelson Mail