GARRY’S QUEENSLAND RACEWAY SHANNONS NATIONALS WRAP – SATURDAY
Australian Production Car Series “Fight in the Night” headlined the days action – Photo: InSyde Media
Jacuzzi Spa Australian Production Cars
THE POPULAR ‘Fight in the Night’, the opening leg of the second round of the series was won by Beric Lynton and Tim Leahey in their BMW M3.
They finished 7.2s ahead of the Jim Pollicina/Ryan Simpson Lotus Exige 350 with brothers Grant and Iain Sherrin (BMW M4) filling third place after a drive-through penalty for a safety car breach.
Behind the three A1 Class placegetters, Karl Begg and Justin Anthony (Mercedes C63) were fourth and the A2 winners ahead of the A1s of Tony and Kyle Alford (Lotus) and the BMWs of Andrew Fisher/Anthony Soole, Thomas Muller/Shane Smollen and Jake Camilleri/Brad Woods.
Class B1 went to Rob Rubis and Scott Turner in their eleventh-placed BMW 135i, ahead of the Class C winners, Kyle and Blake Aubin (Renault Megane) and the leading Class I Ford Falcon of Jamie Furness and Brad Wickham. Other class victors were Chris Manley/Lea Medhurst (D, Toyota 86) and Ian Salteri/Cem Yucel (E, Nissan Pulsar).
It took two delayed starts with cars breaking down before the race got underway just as the sun began to disappear behind the backdrop. The event went time certain, falling three laps shy of its 300km duration and featured four safety cars.
Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge
Cooper Murray took the win in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge – Photo: InSyde Media
THE OPENING race was the 40-lap Jim Richards Endurance Trophy event, and for most of its duration, was a thriller. In the end, Cooper Murray edged out Max Vidau for the win.
Vidau and Simon Fallon led the opening laps after Murray struggled off the line. Murray quickly moved by Fallon into second and started his pursuit of Vidau.
The leading duo were pushing hard at the front, with Vidau further handicapped by losing the lip of his front splitter. Despite that Vidau maintained the lead after lap-by-lap challenges from Murray.
Murray managed to get past with four laps to go, just moments before the safety car was called to remove Scotty Taylor from the Turn 3 gravel trap.
Meanwhile, the battle for third had intensified, with Jimmy Vernon, Chelsea Angelo and Simon Fallon moving to within striking distance of the leading duo.
In a one-lap dash to the chequered flag, Murray held on to win from Vidau, Vernon, Angelo and Fallon in fifth.
Pro-Am driver Brett Boulton was sixth outright ahead of class rival Danny Stutterd in seventh, one ahead of third in class Michael Hovey. Christian Pancione was the best in Class B and ninth outright. In that class Tom Taplin was next ahead of David Greig and Andrew Goldie.
Skye Sands Sports Sedans
Thomas Randle crossed the line first in Sports Sedans – Photo: InSyde Media
IN THE opening race for the National Series’ round four, Thomas Randle crossed the finish line well clear of Steven Tamasi and Phil Crompton, virtually leading from the outset. The result remains provisional subject to a hearing on Sunday morning.
Randle (SAAB/Chev) was narrowly out-pointed off the rolling start by Tony Ricciardello (Alfa/Chev), but had the line into the first corner to take a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
Ricciardello hung with the race leader for several laps but started to suffer a water leak, which ultimately became an oil leak and he became a retirement from the race.
Tamasi started out of tenth position after his Calibra had its extractors had fractures in qualifying and charged through to second while Crompton (Ford Mustang) had to overcome Shane Bradford (Chev Camaro).
The latter fell away to sixth behind Steven Lacey (Camaro) and Shane Woodman (BMW/Chev) while finishing in front of Adam Hargraves (MARC 2 V8) and Geoff Taunton (MARC Ford Focus V8).
Hot Wheels Prototype Series
Dave Barram was unmatched in the Prototype series – Photo: InSyde Media
TWO SAFETY Car periods didn’t prevent Dave Barram in his Chiron from taking a comprehensive win in the opening of round three.
He finished well clear of race-long battle for second where Mark Laucke (West WX10) ultimately passed Jason Makris (Wolf GB08) to settle the minor placings.
Makris’ teammate Sage Murdoch fended off Adam Beesley (Radical SR3) until the latter spun off at Turn 4 and couldn’t restart.
Behind them there was a good dice happening between Radical race drivers, Stephen Champion and Carmelo Bonaventura who started at the rear following a post-qualifying penalty.
Grant Green (SR3), Scott Bingham (Minetti SS-V1), Brian Pettit (Minetti) and Brenton Keogh (West WR1000) completed the top ten.
Queensland X3 Series
Brock Giblin leading the Queensland Hyundai X3 Series – Photo: InSyde Media
WHILE SEVERAL squabbled for the minors, Brock Giblin lit out to take a 7.5s victory in the opening race for the one-make Shannons Nationals’ invited category.
Giblin led all the way but second was up for grabs for many laps. Kaden Olsen was second initially ahead of Mark Goldspink before Cameron Bartholomew forged through and then held off the challenge of Brett Parrish over the second half of the race
Goldspink was just behind them in fourth, and just ahead of Richard Peasey and Frank Mammarella. Then followed Seiton Connor Young ahead of Scott Green and Darren Whittington who started at the rear of the 32-car field after a ride-height discrepancy in qualifying. Olson failed to finish when stopping at Turn 4.
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