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GARRY’S WINTON SUPERSPRINT SUPPORT WRAP – SUNDAY

Steve Johnson won the Touring Car Masters round at Winton - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Steve Johnson won the Touring Car Masters round at Winton - Photo: InSyde Media

Steve Johnson won the Touring Car Masters round at Winton – Photo: InSyde Media

Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters

STEVE JOHNSON, Ryan Hansford and Leo Tobin were the respective ProMasters, ProAm and ProSports winners at round three with Johnson the overall winner ahead of Hansford and Adam Bressington.

Points leader coming into the round, John Bowe (Holden Torana A9X) chased Johnson (Ford Mustang) until the power steering host came adrift. Bowe then struggled to finish seventh while Johnson headed home Hansford (Torana SL/R 5000), Andrew Fisher (Ford Falcon XY GT), Bruce Williams (SL/R 5000) and Tony Karanfilovski (Mustang).

The later race was delayed when Rob Burns (Holden Monaro GTS) had a starter motor issue on the grid and when the race did begin, Williams had contact with the rear guard of Bressington’s Chev Camaro which broke the Torana’s steering arm.

After further safety car laps, Johnson led but with cold tyres, slipped up slightly at turn 12, sufficiently enough to allow Bressington through for victory ahead of Hansford.

Johnson held out Bowe in the shortened time-certain race with Jason Gomersall (A9X) next ahead of Fisher, Karanfilovski, Mark King (Camaro), Cameron Tilley (Valiant Pacer) and Jim Pollicina.

Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Cars

Jack Smith leading the way in V8 Touring Cars - Photo: InSyde Media

Jack Smith leading the way in V8 Touring Cars – Photo: InSyde Media

A THIRD and a win in the second and third races has given Jack Smith his second round win in a row and firmed him in the points score lead.

Smith (BJR Holden Commodore VE) led race two, the first of the day, from the outset. Even firing off the road at turn 5 didn’t stop him from being at the head of the queue.

He was having a brake pad issue and soon after Tyler Everingham (MH Motorsport ex-FPR Ford Falcon FG) was able to get past and take the win. Before the race was over Jordan Boys (Image Racing ex-SBR) shot through to second at turn 1.

In the third race, Smith led all the way. Boys was applying the pressure until retiring with a suspected blown piston. That elevated Everingham to second ahead of teammate Zak Best which is the way they finished the round.

Consistency brought Jon McCorkindale (ex-SBR Falcon BF) fourth overall ahead of Boys’ teammate Jacob Bell, Jim Pollicina (ex-Tasman VE), Boys, Garry Hills (ex-WR VE), Michael Anderson (ex-FPR FG) and Chris Smerdon (ex-SBR FG).

Kumho Cup honours went to Pollicina over Hills and Smerdon while the Heritage class was taken out by Andy Cantrell (ex-GST Falcon EL) over Sean Fardell (ex-PE Commodore VX).

ECB SuperUtes

Tom Alexander took out the SuperUtes - Photo: InSyde Media

Tom Alexander took out the SuperUtes – Photo: InSyde Media

AT THE second round New Zealand Tom Alexander has taken the laurels ahead of Ryal Harris and Aaron Cameron. Toby Price was fourth and round one winner Craig Woods was fifth yet retained a slim points advantage.

Race two for the turbo diesels saw the top six reversed for the start where Harris (Mazda BT50) was the early leader. Alexander (Holden Colorado) moved to second, and then led but would be penalised for tagging Price (Mitsubishi Triton) on the opening lap, serving a drive-through penalty.

Harris resumed the lead and held off teammate Aaron Cameron while Woods (Toyota Hilux) was third ahead of his teammate Ben Walsh, Tom Gasperak (Colorado) and Price.

Alexander was an all-the-way winner of the third race where Harris maintained second throughout. Cameron was third for the first half until he was passed by Price. Woods was next ahead of Gasperak, Walsh, Matt MacKelden (Hilux) and Stephen Wilson (Isuzu D-Max).

Aussie Racing Cars

Kel Treseder and Justin Ruggier leading the Aussie Racing Cars - Photo: InSyde Media

Kel Treseder and Justin Ruggier leading the Aussie Racing Cars – Photo: InSyde Media

FOR THE third successive round it was Kel Treseder on the top step of the podium in his Camaro-bodied racer.

He came into the final race equal on points with Justin Ruggier (Mustang) whose endeavours to win the round came unstuck when tagged by Joel Heinrich (Altima) at turn 1 after a safety car restart.

Out the melee Kyle Ensbey (Mustang) emerged in front and took the win ahead of Blake Sciberras (Mustang), Treseder, Leigh Bowler (Camaro), Josh Anderson (Camaro) and Reece Chapman (Camaro). Ruggier recovered from 16th and Heinrich was 17th.

Earlier in the day, in the reversed top ten race three, Ruggier came through to pass Ensbey on the final lap to be first across the ling. However, he was penalised 5s for starting outside his pit box and dropped to fourth behind Treseder and Heinrich.

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