It was an eventful night at Baypark last night with the return of long distance racing in the form of the South Pacific Saloon Championship 30-lap feature.

Stock cars lined three cars wide ready to start their engines at Baypark speedway last night.

Saloon Cars have not raced over the 30-lap distance at Baypark since more than 15 years ago.

Steve Cowling in 271M led from the start with Brent McClymont in 2NZ chasing him all the way.

On lap 12 Brent made his attempt to pass Steve before catching slower traffic, although the move failed, forcing Brent to follow Steve through lapped cars.

At lap 25 Brent made a successful move on the outside of Steve where he led the race - a position Brent held to the finish.

Jared Hawkins in 27USA demonstrated the form expected from the American Super Late Model driver since he arrived in New Zealand before Christmas last year.

Following a high speed roll over Jared missed the last meeting as he waited for his car to be repaired but came back to win the second heat and the feature 30-lap race.

Local drivers Russell Donavan in 71M and Karl Hanlon 76M showed early form although Karl spun out of second place in the feature with Russell finishing third.

88M Dyer was on the podium again this season with a second place in the Super Saloon feature.

Super Saloon action returns to Baypark with the Super Saloon Pro Dirt series and Super Stock Best of the Rest invitation on Saturday January 12.

Saloon Car pile-up coming in to turn two.

27USA Super Saloon driver Jared Hawkins in full flight.

Results were:

South Pacific Saloon Championship

First - 2nz Brent McClymont

Second - 271M Steve Cowling

Third - 272M Chris Cowling.

Lucas Oil Production Saloon Summer series

First overall -76G Ethan Cook

Second - 48H David Pilkington

Third - 35H Marcus Bullen

Andrew Edwards Memorial Mini Sprint Invitation

First -22A Jason McGiesh

Second -10R Gavin McClinchie

Third - 76K Jacki Salmon

Super Saloon Feature

First -Jared Hawkins 27USA

Second - Gavin Dyer 88M

Third - Russell Donavan 71M

Stock Car Feature

First -Les Hepworth 22M

Second - Stacy Keach 97M

Third - Ryan Hunt 29M

Mini Stocks Feature 1st Bradley Marsh 67M, 2nd Trent Amrein 42M, 3rd Matt Nielsen 47M