New Zealand has a great record in WDC

New Zealand has a great record when it comes to the World Drivers Championship and Blair Orange will be looking to extend it when the series comes to NZ in November.

Of all the countries represented since the series began in 1970, New Zealand has been the most successful with six winners.

New Zealand’s first winner was Cambridge horseman Kevin Holmes in 1978, followed by Robert Cameron (1983), Tony Herlihy (1985), Maurice McKendry (1991), Mark Jones (2003) and Dexter Dunn (2015).

Peter Wolfenden was supposed to represent New Zealand in 1978, but he declined the invitation so Holmes took up the challenge.

The series was run on ten tracks in North America in late May and early April ’78 and of the forty seven races held, Holmes won ten and finished second or third a further twenty one times. He finished thirty five points ahead of Pekka Korpi of Finland.

Famed Norwegian driver Ulf Thoresen competed that year, finishing fourth. Over the nine years he represented his country he won four WDCs and to date is the most successful driver in the fifty five year history of the series.

In 1978 drivers earned $10 per point and the winner an additional $2,500 bonus so Holmes took home $5,800.00.

Winning races in America wasn’t new for the New Zealand horseman. He took smart two year old Testing Times to the States.

This year the WDC championships will be raced in New Zealand in November, with heats at Kaikoura, Cambridge, Addington and Winton. The final day of the series will be on Cup Day at Addington.

Drivers competing will be James MacDonald – Canada, Gary Hall Jr – Australia, Antonio Simioli -Italy, Santtu Raitala – Finland, Michael Nimczyk – Germany, Jaap Van Rijn – Netherlands, Mats Djuse – Sweden, Blair Orange – New Zealand, Pierre Vercruysse – France and Brett Beckwith – USA.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink