By Dave Di Somma
Champion Kiwi driver Blair Orange has slipped back to eighth place heading into the last day of the world drivers’ championships in Europe.
On day three in Belgium Orange had a third, a fourth, two sixths and a disqualification to be on 89 points, 50 behind runaway leader and defending champion Rick Ebbinge from the Netherlands. Orange was fourth after day two, the halfway mark.
There is a close race behind Ebbinge with Australia’s Peter McMullen on 106 points, one ahead of Hanna Huygens from Belgium and Santtu Raitala (Finland) on 103.
With just five races left on the final day at Berlin on Saturday (New Zealand time) Orange needs a huge finish to challenge for a place on the podium.
Ten drivers are involved in the championship. They receive 17 points for winning a race, with the points for the remaining nine finishing positions being, in descending order, 12, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.
Orange is vying to be the seventh New Zealander to win the world title, following on from Dexter Dunn (2015), Mark Jones (2003), Maurice McKendry (1991), Tony Herlihy (1985), Robert Cameron (1983), and Kevin Holmes (1978).
Points (after day three) :
Rick Ebbinge (The Netherlands) 139
Peter McMullen (Australia) 106
Hanna Huygens (Belgium) 105
Santtu Raitala (Finland) 103
Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 97
Doug McNair (Canada) 93
Ross Jordan (USA) 93
Blair Orange (New Zealand) 89
Miodrag Pantic (Serbia) 68
Rodney Gatt (Malta) 10
