Halliday’s Porsche GT3 Campaign Back On Track After Teretonga Races
Date:	16th January 2005
Embargo:	For Immediate Release

New Zealand racing driver Matt Halliday has put his Timaru curse behind him to score a significant victory and two second placings in the fourth round of the NZ Porsche GT3 championship held at the Teretonga Park Raceway, south of Invercargill. The race win was significant as it was the 50 lap twilight endurance race held on Saturday evening.

Halliday’s was determined to make amends for his torrid result from the Timaru round of the series last weekend when he scored a second place and two non-finishes and drop to third on the points standings. It is the second year running that he has come away from Timaru with few points and almost senses the Levels Raceway has some sort of “voodoo” over him.

This weekend Matt qualified a close second after completing only a handful of qualifying laps but with Saturday’s first race being a endurance format, had a tactical plan which he executed most effectively. After trailing pole-sitter, Craig Baird, for the opening laps he made his move mid-distance to take the lead he was never to relinquish, winning by just under five seconds. Australian driver, Bryce Washington filled out the podium by coming home third.

Although starting from pole position in Sunday’s first race things did not go as planned as arch rival, Baird, beat him off the line to lead the early stages but the race was red flagged following a major accident involving Aucklander Mike Weeks. With the resulting disruption and changeable weather conditions, Baird took the deserved victory with Halliday a close second but both drivers admitted to being preoccupied with concern for Weeks who was flown to Dunedin Hospital. Series points leader, Hamilton’s Ross Rutherford, completed the top three place getters.

The third race of the weekend saw Baird back on pole position and despite the closeness of racing and applying constant pressure, Halliday simply couldn’t find a way around his defensive opponent:

“It was an up and down weekend but the racing with Craig was great fun. The overall plan was to get the points situation back under control and we achieved that. Unfortunately Mikes accident was of great concern and we all wish him a speedy recovery” said Halliday after the last race. Again, Rutherford finished in third position.

The weekend concluded with Ross Rutherford still leading the series by one point from Craig Baird with Halliday 12 points further back. The Porsche racers have no time to relax as they only have a week to the next round of the Battery Town sponsored series at Ruapuna on 22nd and 23rd of January.

END.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kevin Lancaster – Media Liaison (NZ)
Tel: (09) 627-8219
Mob: 021 627 824
E-mail: kevlancs@xtra.co.nz

Matt Halliday
Tel: 021 280-8412
E-mail: mhalliday21@xtra.co.nz
Web: http://www.matthalliday.com