Armstrong retakes GT New Zealand Championship lead at Highlands – Exton in control in GT4

Rick Armstrong has re-taken the lead of the Summerset GT New Zealand Championship at Highlands Motorsport Park this weekend.

McLaren driver William Exton put on another dominate display taking two wins and second placing across the weekend’s three races in the GT4 Class.

While Marco Giltrap took three wins in Junior Pro aboard his Porsche 992.

For Armstrong who came into the weekend in second place behind Mercedes driver Joel Giddy, he took three ‘Open Class’ wins across the three races, scoring valuable points to defend his championship, and also points towards the coveted Porsche Endurance Trophy New Zealand standings.

While Exton in his McLaren won two races in the GT4 class, he didn’t have it all his own way with another rising star, Ayrton Hodson grabbing a hard fought win in his Toyota Supra in Sunday morning mornings race. The two youngsters battling nose to tail throughout the entire 30-minute encounter which was deemed the drives of the weekend.

With just three more races to go at Hampton Downs next month, there is still plenty to play for particularly in the Open Class where the points split is very close.

Armstrong (Porsche 992) sits on 884.5 points, 32 clear of Joel Giddy (Mercedes AMG GT2), with Luke Manson (Porsche 992) 73 points further behind in third.

In GT4, the McLaren of Exton sits on 1016 points, 200.5 clear of James Sax in second, with James Sax (Mercedes AMG GT4 just 7.5 points further behind in third.

The Summerset GT New Zealand Championship now takes a short break before resuming at Hampton Downs for the fifth and final round, March 21-23