GARRY’S DARWIN TRIPLE CROWN SUPPORT WRAP – SUNDAY
Dylan O’Keeffe took out the Carrera Cup round in Darwin – Photo: InSyde Media
Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Aust
DYLAN O’KEEFFE scored his maiden round win at the category’s fourth outing of the year, weathering the onslaught of challengers to finish second in race three behind James Moffat.
Earlier, race two began with pole sitter David Wall stalling on the grid. Third-placed O’Keeffe narrowly missed the motionless Porsche. However, Dale Wood wasn’t so lucky, hitting Wall resulting in race-ending damage to both.
A subsequent Turn 1 incident between John Steffensen and Dean Cook and contact on the restart, which involved Josh Hunt, ended Nick McBride’s event. There was a one-lap dash to the chequered flag after two long safety cars and Jaxon Evans won ahead of O’Keeffe and James Moffat.
In race three, O’Keeffe fended off a challenge from Evans before establishing a gap to second-placed Moffat. Ultimately the latter charged past Evans, and then O’Keeffe late in the race to claim his first race win in a decade. O’Keeffe salvaged second back when Evans overshot at Turn 1 with two laps to go.
Tag Heuer Challenge classes’ Adrian Flack followed his race one victory with a repeat win in the interrupted race two, placing seventh outright after several Pro drivers failed to finish.
Flack was again racing well within the top ten in race three before dropping to eighth in class by the finish. Victory in the race went to Stephen Grove which also meant his second straight round win. Flack was the class runner-up overall ahead of Tim Miles.
Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters
Steven Johnson dominated Touring Car Masters – Photo: InSyde Media
STEVEN JOHNSON enhanced his record at Hidden Valley, being the first to win four consecutive rounds at the same venue and also took the points lead in the title chase.
The Ford Mustang driver claimed the Shannons Thunder in the Valley (fourth round) event with a win and a second in the eleventh and twelfth races which is also his third 2018 round success in a row.
Johnson followed John Bowe (Holden Torana A9X) home in the finale with fellow ProMaster rivals Adam Bressington (Chev Camaro) and Bowe second and third overall. Ian Woodward won his first ProSports round in his Camaro, ahead of Leo Tobin (Torana) and Jim Pollicina (Torana). Meanwhile, Bruce Williams (Torana SL/R 5000) capped off a strong weekend by taking the ProAm class victory ahead of Andrew Fisher (Ford Falcon XY GT) and Cameron Tilley (Valiant Pacer).
Johnson won race eleven as Bowe stormed to second, less than a second behind. A first corner pass saw Bowe third half-way through the opening lap, before he quickly passed Bressington who finished third while Jim Richards (Ford Falcon Sprint) was fourth in front of Mark King (Camaro).
Race twelve saw Johnson and Bowe lead the field into the first corner, Bowe committing to the outside and grabbing the front-running away from Johnson. Bressington finished third after he passed Richards when the latter had a slight moment at Turn 1 and King also slipped through.
Behind Richards, Jason Gomersall (Torana A9X), Fisher, Williams, Tilley and Woodward completed the top ten.
Aussie Racing Cars
Local Bryce Fullwood won the Aussie Race Cars weekend – Photo: InSyde Media
WITH VICTORY in the final race of the non-championship event, category novice Bryce Fullwood was the overall winner at Hidden Valley.
Driving a Mustang-bodied racer Fullwood led from the outset and established a near-two second lead. That was enough for him to hold off the late charge of teammates and fellow Mustang drivers Craig Woods and Justin Ruggier.
Behind them were Adam Uebergang (Camaro) and Joel Heinrich who finished third overall behind Woods. Paul Morris also battled in the group until he pulled off when the motor simply cut out.
Earlier in the reverse grid race, Woods came through to win ahead of Heinrich third, ahead of Leigh Bowler (Camaro), Morris and Uebergang. Ben Wilcox (Mustang) led early and finished seventh while Ruggier was an early casualty due to water in his fuel.
Uebergang lost spots when he had contact with Morris and spun but the latter had dramas too, running off the track at the same corner later.
Shannons Improved Production/Commodore Cup/HQ Holden
Rob Braune took out the combined categories – Photo: InSyde Media
THE THIRD and final race for the combined categories was won by Rob Braune in his BMW E30 over Tim Playford (Mazda 808) with Ross Salmon (HSV Clubsport) third.
They were the top three in over two litre Improved Production while the under two litre honours went to Craig Wright (Ford Escort) in 13th. For the third time Bryce Fullwood won Commodore Cup and Duane Cambridge took out HQs.
Braune launched off pole position to lead throughout, leaving Mick Uebergang (Mazda RX3) to dice with Playford for second spot. The latter ultimately went ahead before Uebergang lost brakes and bunkered, taking the lapped Dylan Bujnowski HQ off with him.
Fourth in the race went to Barry Smith (Commodore VP) ahead of Rodney Jessop. David Ling was seventh and second of the Commodore Cup runners while Keven Stoopman brought his production car Subaru Impreza WRX STi home ninth ahead of Carl Wienands (Toyota Celica).
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