Kiwi Andre Heimgartner wins first race at Taupō Super 400
Saturday, 20 April 2024
New Zealand’s own Andre Heimgartner won the first race at the Taupō 400.
**It was just the second race win of *Heimgartner’s Supercars career.***
Four New Zealanders finished in the top 10.
Andre Heimgartner won Saturday’s Supercars race in Taupō, with a superb demonstration of defensive driving.
The 28-year-old Kiwi held off Chaz Mostert for a large part of the race, before a freak tyre incident took the Australian out of contention.
This was Heimgartner’s second Supercars win of his career, with his maiden victory being at the Bends in 2021, but this one will mean far more to the Aucklander.
If Heimgartner can repeat his feat in Sunday’s race, he’ll collect the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, to keep this treasured prize that’s been in the hands of a New Zealand driver since 2018.
Heimgartner had spent most of his Supercars career in the shadows of Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin, while it was Matt Payne who had been getting most of the attention in the build-up to Taupō.
But this was Heimgartner’s moment in the spotlight and he was exceptional in how he handled the difficult wet conditions.
It was always going to be a gamble holding a big outdoor event in late April and you can never be sure of the weather at any time of the year in New Zealand, but the scheduling didn’t pay off.
Plenty of spectators left before the main race started, deciding to watch it in the comfort and warmth of their hotel room. Thankfully, the weather forecast is better for Sunday.
Because of the rain, carnage was expected, but not inside the first 100m, with Tim Slade, who started on the second row, getting off to a flyer from the line and diving into the middle of the track, but took out Cameron Waters.
Payne aquaplaned at the first corner before the safety car had been deployed, so what might have been an incredible first day racing a Supercar in New Zealand for him, came to little.
When racing did get underway again it was Will Brown in the lead and Heimgartner second.
On lap eight Bryce Fullwood got spun at the hairpin before the main straight and couldn’t restart his car, so this led to another safety car and everyone jumping into the pits for a tyre change.
Heimgartner came out in the lead after that and looked comfortable in the conditions. By lap 20, Mostert was nipping at Heimgartner’s heels, but at the halfway point of the 60-lap race the Kiwi was able to keep a 0.5 second lead.
On lap 40 Heimgartner and Mostert came in for their crucial final tyre changes and Heimgartner was able to keep in front after them. Two laps later it became apparent that Mostert’s right rear tyre hadn’t been put on properly and as he took a left turn, it flew off.
With Mostert gone, the pressure came off Heimgartner, all he had to do was keep his Chevrolet Camaro pointing in the right direction and the victory was his.
He crossed the finish line comfortably ahead of Will Davison, giving the passionate, but very wet fans something to cheer about.
Ryan Wood, the 20-year-old from Wellington, had by far the best result of his career by finishing fourth, while Richie Stanaway had an amazing race making up 17 places to finish sixth.
Jaxon Evans came home in 10th position, also the best result of his Supercars career, while Payne battled to finish 13th.