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Daniel Gaunt at Manfeild - Source: Photosport -
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Auckland driver Daniel Gaunt won the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild on Sunday in a race that was tinged with sadness.
Grand Prix veteran Kenny Smith, 67, raced on despite the death of his mother Dorothy on Saturday night aged 93.
The multiple winner paid tribute to his mother, who for many years had followed her son at race tracks around the country and became a popular figure in the motor racing community.
In wet conditions, Smith was seventh on Sunday, off the pace set by Gaunt over 35 laps.
The 24-year-old dominated to claim his second New Zealand Grand Prix title, carrying on from setting pole on Saturday and winning the 10-lap pre-cursor race on Sunday morning.
Gaunt said the quality of field, which included Team New Zealand A1 Grand Prix driver Earl Bamber, ensured any result would be deserved.
"I had to push the whole time. With the changing conditions and getting drier all the time I knew Earl would be on me the whole weekend," he said.
"It was fortunate we set the car up for drying conditions and luckily that's what it did in the race."
Gaunt won by three seconds from Bamber in a time of 45 minutes 35.667 seconds, which included one Safety Car period during the race.
