Burson wins 'next big thing'

Story by: MAT KERMEEN - Photo by: Barry Whitnall

As any good punter will tell you, you're only a week away from turning it all around and that's exactly what Nelson's Ian Burson achieved on Friday night, winning the New Zealand Super Saloon Grand Prix.

Coming off a disappointing finals performance on his home track last Sunday, Burson was unstoppable at AmPro Tools Woodford Glen Speedway, dominating his group in qualifying before comfortably winning the final.

As far as consultation prizes go, this was a good one. The Grand Prix is rated the second biggest championship in the country and the opposition was largely the same as last week's national title.

"It's a fantastic feeling, it's the next big thing and we have won it," Burson says of his second Grand Prix victory, the first in 2010 in Wellington.

Burson carried good track form into the meeting but few would have picked him to breeze through qualifying with two wins and a second. Overtaking proved no problem for Burson in the quality field of 13 cars, quickly finding the front regardless of where he started.

Burson was top qualifier, earning the right to start the 25-lap, 18-car final on pole position. His biggest threat looked likely to come from Woodford Glen locals Brent Emerson, who started on his outside, and Richie Taylor, off grid five.

Emerson found the front early but Burson took over when Emerson retired with a puncture. Taylor was beginning to assert pressure on Burson's lead before he also headed infield with a puncture, leaving Burson to drive away with the title.

Ironically, it was a puncture that put the final nail in the coffin of Burson's campaign last week.

"It's just luck of the draw, it swings both ways," Burson explains. "You just have to keep trying and eventually the rewards will come your way."

Blenheim's Paddy North finished second ahead of Shane Carey, making it an all South Island podium.

Carey had been average all night but stepped up when it mattered most, capping a week to remember for the Carey brothers, both Mark and Shane claiming third placings in national events.

The two-day meeting continued on Saturday and Burson continued with his winning ways.

Two wins in qualifying plus victory in the pole shuffle earned another pole position start in the Hoopla final.

Earlier in the night, Burson also claimed second place in the prestigious Race of Champions.

When Burson went straight to the front in the 30-lap, 16-car final, the trophy engraver should have got started as the result never looked in any doubt.

Wellington's Martin Halcrow got home for second ahead of Auckland driver Ben Harding.

Burson, the stand-out driver of the weekend, paid tribute to his team, who, he said, had his car perfect all weekend, especially for both finals.

The longer than usual races are taxing on vehicle and driver. "It was a long 30 laps, honestly it was feeling more like 100 laps," a thrilled Burson joked after winning the Hoopla.

Mark Carey's night had ended in the heats with an ignition problem while brother Shane had a rear suspension issue early in the final.