ALASTAIR WOOTTEN WINS ON DEBUT! - TAUPO RACE 1 REPORT

Alastair Wootten had an unbelievable start to his first ever National Championship event today by taking his first race victory on debut.

Speedsport 'Star of Tomorrow' Scholarship winner Wootten held off fellow Sabre team mate Caine Lobb to the first line honours of the season - taking his first championship win on his first attempt. An outstanding effort by the young Aucklander.

Wootten and Lobb were followed home by reigning National Champion Michael Shepherd.

Wootten's win was the result of great tactics, the first time Championship driver electing to stay in second position on the vital last lap. He seized his opportunity to take the lead from team mate Lobb as the field approached the pit straight for the last time and held on down the pit straight to take the win by less than .2 of a second.

Wootten's Sabre team were ecstatic with the result and much celebration took place in the pits immediately afterwards - the race win being the proverbial "icing on the cake" after Wootten had also taken pole during the qualifying session held earlier in the day.

Michael Shepherd had by his own admission a less than perfect race, making a mistake with a few laps to go which left him out of touch with the two front runners. Given the circumstances, third was the best Michael could have hoped for and he was reasonably happy with the result.

"I was planning things to see how I could get to the front at the right time, but I made a move that didn't pay off and it hurt me in terms of track position" said Shepherd.

The Palmerston Nth resident salvaged third place ahead of the ever present Ian Foster (Auckland). Both Foster and Shepherd some 1.8 seconds downs on winner Wootten.

Selby Allison was next to cross the line in fifth place, a further two seconds back from Foster. Following Allison were two Sabre Team rookie drivers Matthew Stubbs and Stefan Webling - their result seeing four Sabre cars finish within the top seven.

In 8th place was Scott Fountain, followed by Bryan McConkey and rookie Bradley McDonald.