Hill climb thrills beckoning

Coronet Peak Hill Climb spectators can catch some serious motorsport as well as great scenery...
Coronet Peak Hill Climb spectators can catch some serious motorsport as well as great scenery PICTURE: KB ACTION IMAGES
Cromwell's Hayden Paddon, one of the world’s best rally drivers, is again entering Queenstown Car Club’s Coronet Peak Hill Climb this Saturday.

He’s driving his Hyundai Kona electric car, in which he placed third, two years ago.

"It’s worth going to have a look at the event just to see him," says ex-club president Stuart Maclean, who co-founded the club in 1971.

"The acceleration of that car is absolutely incredible."

He’s expecting up to 40 competitors, including many from out of town including Dunedin drivers Glen Frew, a past winner, and Chris Hey in his "quite spectacular" modified Toyota MR2.

Local drivers include Todd Read, young Jack Gutschlag, Steve Walak and Dr Tom Milliken, who’s only recently taken up the sport.

Competitors drive up the final, windy 2.7km stretch of the skifield road, and are given at least three timed runs, if not four.

"It’s a very interesting piece of road, a lot of people involved in motorsport want to have a crack at Coronet Peak," Maclean says.

The course-record 79 seconds was set by Andrew Waite in Highlands Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn’s Ford Focus in 2017.

Racing starts about 10.15am this Saturday.

Maclean notes "there are plenty of places spectators can stand, safely".

 

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