Rotorua Speedway hosted the 2008 World of Stocks Championship over two nights of racing on the 4th and 5th of April. The Stock Cars are the budget version of the NZ top contact formula - the Superstocks but often provide very large fields of cars and every bit as much action on track. UK representatives in the shape of 575 Darren Cottrill, 149 Marc Radforth and 210 Matt Smith had acclimatised themselves having arrived a week prior to the event and were to drive cars provided by Graham McRobbie (UK575) Eban Young (UK149) and Ivan Lammas (UK210). Cottrill had a lucky break as his car's owner has his own track in his garden ! Unfortunately Darren blew the engine when the oil pressure light had a 24 watt bulb in a 12 volt circuit so the bulb never illuminated to warn Cottrill of impending trouble. Darren's host did not grumble and a new Ford straight 6 power unit was fitted.

All 3 drivers got a practice on the qualifying night (Friday 4th) with Radforth and Cottrill looking pretty sharp. Smith's car suffered steering problems and the crew worked on the car the next morning in readiness for the evening's main event. The UK contingent were joined by 2 Australian drivers to take on the best from New Zealand.

Pre race favourites Peter Rees, Clive Pritchard - who raced in last years V8 WF at Kings Lynn and 1NZ Alan McRobbie were well in contention after the first two heats with the Championship being run over 3 heat races with each driver gridding near the front, near the back and in the middle. Traditionally, the points leaders going into the final heat are marked men but no one seemed able to dislodge Peter Rees as he secured the win in the final heat to wrap up the Championship. Clive Pritchard finished runner up and Nick Vallance came home 3rd after winning the run off against Kerry Remnant.

The UK contingent had mixed results with Marc Radforth top performer with a heat 1 20th from a grid 19 start, a 9th from grid 5 and an 11th from a grid 19 for a points total of 47 and a 12th place overall. Cottrill had a 16th from a grid 14, 10th from a grid 28 and a DNF from grid 2 where he was rolled by the locals on the first lap ! Matt's results looked like this : 2 DNF's and a 16th from grid 22.

Work commitments will keep Peter Rees and Clive Pritchard from making the trip to the UK but, Nick Vallance and Alan McRobbie are understood to be very keen to take their place on the V8 Hotstox World Final grid at Skegness in August.

The lads are due home later in the week but have had a fantastic time with the guys in New Zealand really looking after them.

Full results and meeting report available on the Rotorua Speedway site