The Bridgestone-Porsche Club NZ Championship Series

The Porsche Club of New Zealand (PCNZ) formed in 1975 and in 1987 the Club struck up what proved to be a longstanding sponsorship relationship with Bridgestone NZ. The Japanese based Bridgestone company was an approved supplier of tyres to Porsche of Germany, having produced the ‘RE 71’ tyre for the Porsche 959 supercar.

The new ‘Bridgestone-Porsche Club NZ Championship Series’ was heralded by PCNZ President, Graham Lister, in the club’s bulletin ‘Spiel’, Issue 26 of June/July 1987: there would be 9 races at 6 rounds held at Pukekohe (one round in August and two in September), Bay Park in October, and Manfeild and Taupo in November. After an agreement with Glen Mottram, Bridgestone NZ General Manager, Graham Lister and PCNZ Competitions Chairman Peter Thorpy set up five race classes within each of the 9 races. The winner on total points at the end of the season, from any one of the five classes, would take the overall championship honours and the Bridgestone Cup for that year.   In 1987 the series attracted a total of 32 cars with an average of some 20 drivers and cars at each of the six rounds. The series was declared a huge success and this no doubt played a very big part in increasing PCNZ membership by 42% in one year.

For the record, winners of the various Classes in 1987 Bridgestone-Porsche Club NZ Championship are as follows:

Class A

Bill Farmer Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 – 151 points all 6 rounds/9 races – 1^st and 2^nd overall

Gordon Burr Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 – 107 points 5 of 6 rounds/7 races 2^nd and 5^th overall

Paul van Dorsten Porsche 930 Turbo 3.0 – 92 points 5 of 6 rounds/8 races 3rd

Jon Warring Porsche 911 RS 2.8 – 77 points all 6 rounds/9 races 4th

Oli Newbegin Porsche 911 RS 2.7 – 66 points all 6 rounds/9 races 5th

Paul Higgins Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 – 60 points all 6 rounds/8 races 6th

Class B

Michael Molloy Porsche 911 SC 2.9 – 157 points all 6 rounds/9 races – 1^st and 1^st Overall

David Sharp Porsche 911 SC 2.9 – 112 points 5 of 6 rounds/8 races – 2^nd and 4^th overall

Peter Shardlow Porsche 911 SC 2.9 – 112 points 4 of 6 rounds/7 races- 3^rd

Jimmy Miller Porsche 911 SC 2.9 -70 points 4 of 6 rounds /7 races 4^th

Class C

Rob Hurst Porsche 944 2.5 – 140 points all 6 rounds/9 races – 1^st and 3^rd overall

Geoff Dibble Porsche 944 – 76 points 3 of 6 rounds 5 races 2^nd equal

Ian Nott Porsche 911 2.7 – 76 points 5 of 6 rounds/7 races 2^nd equal

Kevin Palmer Porsche 944 2.4 – 66 points 5 of 6 rounds/8 races 4^th

Class D

John Heaney Porsche 924 2.0 – 99 points 6 rounds/9 races 1^st and 7^th overall

M Gallen Porsche 924 – 32 points 2 of 6 rounds/3 races 2^nd

Class E

Craig Kelling Porsche 911T 2.0 – 107 points 6 rounds/9 races 1^st and 5^th overall

Glyn Jones Porsche 356 SC 1.6 – 70 points 4 of 6 rounds/6 races -2^nd

Brian Roycroft Porsche 356B – 31 points 3 of 6 rounds/4 races – 3rd