GARRY’S SANDOWN SUPERCARS SUPPORT WRAP – FRIDAY
Prodrive topped Dunlop Super2 practice – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
DUNLOP SUPER 2
Ford drivers Garry Jacobson and Josh Kean have topped a wet Practice session for this weekend’s Dunlop Super2 races at Sandown Park.
The defending Champion set the fastest time later in the session, a 1m20.4546s, a scant 0.06s clear of his Adelaide-based teammate.
Dumbrell was untroubled in the second session, parking more than 20 minutes early – and then was jumped by the Prodrive pair. The points leader seemed confident that he would be fine no matter what the weather, even when he was pushed back to sixth place before the rain gathered strength late in the session.
Third fastest was Anton de Pasquale in the Paul Morris Motorsport Commodore, ahead of the Valvoline Holden of Richard Muscat.
TOURING CAR MASTERS
Steve Johnson won the opening Touring Car Masters race – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
It seemed fitting that the first category to race this weekend at the Wilson Security retro round Sandown 500 was Touring Car Masters.
In the opening race, the reverse grid affair for starting and finishing points only, Steve Johnson (Ford Mustang) slipped and slid his way through to the front in a very wet race. He won ahead of Adam Garwood (Holden Torana) who had two quick excursions off the track, and pole sitter Cameron Mason (Mustang).
Close behind the latter was equal points leader Adam Bressington (Chev Camaro) ahead of Tony Karanfilovski (Mustang), Eddie Abelnica (Ford Falcon XB Coupe) and the Toranas driven by Ryan Hansford and John Bowe.
Bowe is level on points with Bressington and scored his 48th TCM pole position earlier, which will count more for race two tomorrow, edging Johnson by 0.2s. Abelnica was third fastest ahead of Hansford, Karanfilovski, Garwood, Gomersall, Bressington, Mason and Jim Richards in his Ford Falcon Sprint.
AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP
Ash Walsh took pole position for tomorrow’s opening Australian GT race – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
The second qualifying session for the final round of the Australian GT Championship had to be abandoned almost immediately after it started due to Duvashen Padayachee aquaplaning into the armco on opening lap.
Damage to the Audi R8 LMS he is down to share with title contender Ash Walsh was not severe but attention to the fencing caused a delay to the program and ended the day for GTs.
Earlier in the first qualifier, Walsh had taken pole position in his Audi R8 LMS and more importantly, the ten championship points that went with it.
Second fastest was fellow Audi custodian Geoff Emery, driving on his own this weekend. Liam Talbot is also a lone hand this weekend in the Porsche 911 GT3-R and will start on the second row for the first of three 40-minute races with Steve Richards (MBW M6) alongside.
PORSCHE CARRERA CUP
Nick McBride topped Carrera Cup practice – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
After two practice sessions in variable weather conditions Nick McBride the best overall. He was the pacesetter in the opening session, making the most of the dry conditions to pip team Andre Heimgartner. Alex Davison was the third quickest with Dylan O’Keeffe the fourth fastest.
After taking out the GT3 Cup Challenge last weekend, Jordan Love had a strong first showing in the Carrera Cup. The 18-year-old claimed the fifth best time in the dry opening session before posting the second best time in the wet second session, which was topped by Jaxon Evans.
Tim Miles was the best of TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge drivers, eighth fastest of the 19-strong field in opening practice, while the slower, second session was headed up by Sam Shahin.
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