New Zealand made A1GP history today as Jonny Reid and ‘Black Beauty' dominated the Taupo sprint race from lights-to-flag to score their nation's maiden series victory on home soil – and with it move into second position in the championship standings.
The 24-year-old's success made New Zealand only the second country in A1GP history to triumph on home turf, following Robbie Kerr's similar result at
Brands Hatch last year. What's more, with championship leader Switzerland's Neel Jani coming unstuck in an opening lap collision, the Kiwis have now overtaken France and closed to within just five points of the pace-setters in the title standings.
The packed grandstands rose to their feet as Reid took the chequered flag three seconds ahead of defending champions Germany's Christian Vietoris, to secure the first win for New Zealand since taking a double victory in Brno earlier this season. Vietoris, who picked up a bonus point for setting fastest lap, had started from fourth on the grid but quickly disposed of both South Africa and France to make second place his own.
“It's huge, absolutely huge,” an overjoyed Reid enthused after crossing the finish line. “It's the greatest moment in my motorsport career. It means a lot to me, and the pressure has been on all weekend. It's been all go since I got back from the Christmas break and it's really, really satisfying to get one on the board for everyone.
“The pole position was nice, but now we've got the points too and that's what matters in the championship. It's great to have all the home support and I'm just stoked to be number one in the sprint.
“We can definitely move forward in the feature; it's a long race and we've just got to tune the car a bit more for the conditions, but we'll be right there I'm sure. We've got to control the emotions a little bit after this first victory and look for another.”
![New Zealand's Jonny Reid celebrates a popular home victory with his team at Taupo in the nation vs nation series [pic credit: A1GP Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/403130.jpg)
