2nd at Robertson Holden International Speedway Highlights Allard’s International Series Auckland, NZ | Dec. 17, 2014 - Over the last week in New Zealand, Jonathan Allard represented the USA with Kraig Kinser, as they took on Australia’s Robbie Farr, and James McFadden as well as New Zealand’s Dean Brindle and Jamie McDonald in the Porter Hire International Three-Race Series. “It was a tough week for us, but we showed some speed, we just did not get the results we were looking for,” Allard said. Kicking off one week ago on Saturday night, Allard welcomed his foes to the WXC Speedway for the first of three nights of action, and he opened the series up by finishing fifth in his first heat race. Lining up on the front row of the second heat race alongside Robbie Farr, Farr would bet the jump on Allard, though he stayed on Farr’s rear bumper, only to lose the second spot in the closing laps to Jamie McDonald, putting him in the third spot. Sitting eight in points, Allard won the first round of the pole shuffle to move on to take on Michael Pickens, but he would come up short, and start the feature in the fourth row. Finding the top side to his liking in the feature event, Allard worked into the seventh spot in the early goings of the feature event, only to have disaster strike on the fifth lap. Trying to get around a competitor, contact ensued resulting in Allard taking a series of nasty flips, ending his night abruptly. Regrouping on Sunday, Allard and his Porter Group/Hydraulink/Motul No. 0 team headed to Palmerston North on Monday night to take to the Robertson Holden International Speedway for the second leg of the series. Picking up the win in the first heat, Allard would finish fourth in the second heat before finishing second in the shootout, to start on the front row alongside Farr. As the green flag dropped, it was the Australian driver getting the jump over Allard, who chased after him all race long, as he bounced off the wall all race long, running the ragged edge. Late in race, Farr made big time contact with a slowing car, but somehow was able to stay under power and keep the race lead and Allard in the second spot. In the closing laps, Allard left everything on the table as he desperately challenged Farr but came up just short, and settled for a second place finish. Saturday night saw the cars head back to the WXC Speedway for the final leg of the series, though Mother Nature would ultimately have the final say in this contest. With weather playing a factory early in the night, the track was slick in his heat race, and as he tried to tip-toe around the surface, he got out of shape, and James McFadden made contact with his left rear, cutting his first heat short. Sharing the front row with McFadden in the second heat, it was McFadden getting the jump, but Allard showed great speed, as he finished in the second spot, as he looked for a nice shootout to give him a preferred starting spot in the feature event. As teams prepared for the shuffle, the skies opened up big time, and the remained of the night was ultimately cancelled. “It was disappointing to get rained out of the last feature, because I know my team was really looking forward to trying to defend our turf at the WXC Speedway,” Allard added. “We had a rough start to the week, but everyone worked hard, and we were able to have a strong run at Robertson Holden.” Allard would like to thank Porter Group, Hydraulink, Motul, New Zealand Ceiling and Drywall Supplies, Exide, and BDR Max for their support. 2014 BY THE NUMBERS: Races-67, Wins-13, Top 5’s-32, Top 10’s-44. ON TAP: Allard will be back in action on December 26th at the WXC Speedway.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:51:26 +0000
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