Heimgartner’s hot streak
THE UNTOUCHABLE DRIVER HAS RACKED UP FOUR WINS IN SIX RACES, WRITES MATTHEW HANSEN
After missing the opening rounds of the 2015-16 BNT NZ Touring Car championship, Auckland’s Andre Heimgartner has been near-untouchable — racking up four wins in six races over the category’s two South Island meetings.
“I’m not sure what it is at the moment, it’s just easy to drive, the guys have done a great job getting it set up and I feel like I’m driving well too,” Heimgartner said.
The trend once again returned at Teretonga over the weekend, as he clocked two convincing victories, in race one and race two.
Both races saw the fight for second place take centre-stage, as series leader Simon Evans had to battle through the pack to secure the spot as “best of the rest”.
The reverse-grid race three however, produced a different result.
Property Tutors Holden driver Angus Fogg took the win. “We’ve been close to a win a couple of times this season, and it’s nice to get one. It was a tough weekend, we broke a diff in the first race on Saturday and replaced it last night,” he said.
After getting one of his trademark lightning starts off the line, Fogg had to hold off a fast charging Heimgartner and Evans, who had both sliced through the field to latch on to the back of the former NZV8 series champion with five laps to go.
Angus Fogg in action. Picture / Matthew Hansen
But “Foggy” held them off with some quality defensive driving, as well as a superior run through the traffic.
“Those two young guys [Heimgartner and Evans] chased me to the line, they are both certainly on form, it was great to hold on. I’m really pleased,” said Fogg.
Though he didn’t win the final race, Heimgartner still won the round.
Despite missing the opening three rounds of the season, the 20-year-old could well inject himself into the title fight against the likes of Evans and Jason Bargwanna if his run of form continues.
“It was a good battle up the front with Simon and Angus in that last one — they both drove really well.
“I hope we can continue the momentum when the championship heads to Manfeild in a few weeks time,” he added.
The series now takes a short break before heading back to the North Island for round six in Manfeild on February 13-14.
