Competing in atrocious weather that eventually forced an early halt to racing, Tauranga driver Ben Thomasen (Polaris) successfully defended his NZ 1000 title in a two-day battle in the September evnet that seesawed between him and fellow UTV pair Carl Ruiterman and Joel Giddy (Yamaha).
Thomasen and Ruiterman duelled throughout the Saturday, Ruiterman in the #27 car taking the lead after Thomasen spun on the first lap, then dropping back when he was nudged into a roadside bank while passing lapped traffic.
Thomasen, driving the latest version of the Polaris RZR 1000, resumed the lead and was not challenged again, taking the first day’s chequered flag in a total elapsed time of 5:48.49.
Multiple ‘1000’ champion Clim Lammers (Hikurangi) was second for the day on 6:11.15; UTV racer Nathan Moore third on 6:12.20.
The following day, snow had fallen on the furthest reaches of the course and a brief period of sunshine was soon to descend into a sleet drizzle. The grid for day two was 66-strong, and off the start the battle for the win was between Thomasen and Lammers with Nathan Moore waiting to pounce if the chance presented itself.
Carl Ruiterman was one of the big movers on the second day but was once more overtaken by Thomasen, who went on to win the day, and with it repeat his 2015 overall event win.
2017 Polaris NZ 1000
Top 6
- Ben Thomasen (Polaris RZR 1000)
- Nathan Moore (Polaris RZR 1000)
- Carl Ruiterman/Joel Giddy (Yamaha)
- Haydn McKenzie (CanAm)
- Roger McKay (Taupo)
- Andrew Williams/Neville Smith (CanAm)
Story and photos by Mark Baker
