Super Chea𒈔p Auto 🌄Racing's Steve Ellery has produced another great drive to finish the first race at New Zealand's Pukekohe Raceway in ninth place.

Starting from 20th on the 💟grid Ellery took advantage of a well-timed pit stop and some strong overtaking to rise 11 places before the cheque🌄red flag was waved.

"Today was good, it was a good day," a pleased Ellery said. "I think I was definitely💝 called in to pit at the righ൲t time, Wally [Ian Walburn, my chief engineer] got it spot on.

"With the rain forcing everyone in early we knew the two-car teams would be d𓆉elayed.

"We picked up a few places this w♎ay, some drivers spun themselves off the track and we we🐻re smart. But at the half way mark of the race I was able to pass fairly easily, I've been told that I was one of the fastest on the track.

"I got past [Paul] Weel, [Simon] Wills, [John] Bowe, [Brad] Jones and [Glenn] Seton relatively easily. I feel that this ninth placing put us where we should have been in qualifyingꦛ, we deserved this result.

"It's been a very satisfying afternoon."

Ellery made a cautiouꦆs start in𒆙 the rain, intent on getting through the first couple of corners unscathed.

"I couldn't see a thing at the start, it was ve▨ry difficult," Ellery said. "In these tough conditions you expect there to be some carnage, especially going into the first turn, this happened today and I was able to steer clear of it.

"I nee🙈ded to make a clean start, i♏f I could do this I thought there was an opportunity to move up."

Ellery described today's effort as one of his more impreꦐssive drives.

"I went out there today just trying to do my best," Ellery said. "After making it through to the top-ten I then concentrated🅷 on chasing down Mark Skaife and Rick Kelly but I got to the stage where I knew I wouldn't be able to catch them so I backed off.

"The change𒁃s made to the Ford really improved it, I h♍ave a very good race car.

"I rea♓lly wanted to give something back to the team for all of their efforts over the last two weeks.

"The best thing about thi꧂s result is that it has set up our Sunday, we've got two races tomorrow and w෴e're starting a lot higher up the grid.

"𒐪The aim is the top-ten as I've been saying all weekend, this is much more attainable now.

"Regardless of the weather conditions tomorrow I'm confident th🀅at we'll again be competitive, I think that we're in pretty good shape."