In a spectacular display of speed and strategy, Ant Pedersen, Paul Pedersen, and the promising young Marco Giltrap seized victory at the Highlands 6 Hour, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Highlands Motorsport Park. Their triumph marked a milestone in what became the longest race for GT cars ever held in New Zealand, testing the mettle of drivers and their support crews to the fullest.
A finish for the ages
The race, which proceeded without significant incident, escalated into an edge-of-your-seat contest in the last hour. The appearance of the safety car, due to Luke Manson's unfortunate Porsche mishap, compressed the field and led to a nail-biting chase. Despite Shane Van Gisbergen's valiant efforts and tactical risk on tyre management, he couldn't fend off the persistent challenge from Pedersen, with Andrew Waite and Jonny Reid trailing close behind.
As the contest entered its final act, Ant Pedersen unleashed the potential of his Mercedes AMG GT3, creating a decisive gap from circuit veteran Waite and his Audi R8 GT3 Evo II. The closing minutes saw Waite close in, but Pedersen held firm, leading him to a well-deserved victory in a demanding test of endurance racing. Waite, Steve Brooks, and Bill Riding went on to clinch second place, trailing the winners by less than a second. New Zealand Endurance Champions Jonny Reid and Sam Fillmore rounded out the podium.
Van Gisbergen's consolation
While Van Gisbergen may have missed out on the top spot in the main event, his debut in the Aussie Racing Cars series was nothing short of dominant, clinching four emphatic wins. This performance added to the competitive spirit of the weekend and showcased his versatile driving prowess.
A weekend of celebrations
In other race news, Danny Stutterd clinched a win in the Highlands 10th Anniversary 1-Hour Enduro, marking a first for the Marc GT in New Zealand. The NAPA Central muscle cars also turned heads, marrying nostalgia with velocity and contributing to the historical essence of the event.
The festival atmosphere was rounded out by a significant win for local hero Ivan Fahey, who won a Lamborghini Huracan. Fahey, a dedicated volunteer in the early days of Highlands, proved that commitment pays off in spades.
