KUMHO V8 TOURING CAR SERIES TITLE TO BE DECIDED AT TAILEM BEND

V8 Touring Car Series title to be decided at The Bend – Photo: InSyde Media

THE KUMHO Tyre Australian V8 Touring Car series title will go down to the wire when the series visits The Bend Motorsport Park for the OTR Super Sprint this week.

Just nine points separate young drivers Tyler Everingham and Zak Best in the battle or the unofficial third-tier of Supercars racing, the pair set to battle out the championship in their identical FG Ford Falcons run by Matt White Motorsport.

A strong 19-car field will tackle the fifth round of the championship this weekend however it is the title battle that will be the focus for many.

It will be another ‘first’ for the brand-new South Australian venue – the eventual Kumho Series winner to be the first ever champion crowned at the impressive facility, an hour outside Adelaide.

Everingham, 17, and Best, 16, have been evenly matched in their debut Touring Car season and have traded results race-for-race since the opening round at Phillip Island in May this year.

In his part-time campaign, defending champion Jack Smith won the opening two rounds before stepping aside to focus on his Super2 Series campaign.

Best won his first race at Phillip Island, in race two, and subsequently finished second overall that weekend with Everingham just 13 points behind, in third.

Smith won again at Winton one month later, where this time it was the turn of Everingham to join the winners list when he won in the second race.

He would edge out his teammate for second overall by 15 points to move ahead in the standings, with Best third.

The pair then assumed ‘point’ at Sydney Motorsport Park in late June when they battled furiously for the lead in each race; Everingham scoring pole and winning twice to take the round victory, while Best won the longer third race to keep his rival close.

Last time out at Queensland Raceway, Best scored his first round win on a countback – three bonus points for pole position helping him win the round ahead of Everingham.

143 points are up for grabs this weekend – however the pair will have to work hard to grab their fair share of them thanks to several likely challengers at the pointy-end of the field.

Brad Jones Racing’s Jack Smith will return for the finale’, and with no title aspirations on the line will be going out to win every race to improve on his already imposing Kumho series record.

Jon McCorkindale comes off back to back podiums – Photo: InSyde Media

Jon McCorkindale, meanwhile, enters the round fresh from back-to-back podium finishes and armed with a newly acquired FG Falcon.

Since making the debut of his new Falcon in Queensland, the New South Wales driver has tested at The Bend Motorsport park in a bid to score a maiden round victory in his second Kumho season.

96 points behind the leader, McCorkindale remains in mathematical contention for the championship should either of the two leaders trip up.

Outside of the title contenders, the talent-packed field is set to offer plenty of close competition throughout the field.

Image racing duo Harley Haber and Maxim Erickson – who both made their respective Kumho series’ debuts at Queensland Raceway last month – return to the Falcon team.

Meanwhile, Sydneysider Jim Pollicina need only stay in close company with nearest rival Gary Hills should he wish to secure the Kumho Cup class title this weekend.

Pollicina, who continues to race at the pointy-end of the field in his ex-Tasman Motorsport VE Commodore, leads his West Aussie rival by 124 points heading into the three races this weekend.

South Aussie racer Chris Smerdon – a longstanding member of the local racing community – sits third in the Kumho Cup class however is only five points ahead of Brendan Strong, in what is shaping up as a close battle for the final step on the class podium.

South Australian fans will also have long-time Supercars privateer Adam Wallis to cheer for, the Warrin Mining-backed driver to return to the series for the first time this year in his VE Commodore.

Two drivers will make their Kumho Series’ debuts this weekend: Blake Fardell to race the Mr HDT Race Engines VX Commodore while Victorian Mark Tracey will debut in a FG Falcon supported by Twin City Roller Doors.

The Kumho Tyre Australian V8 Touring Car Series will kick off the final round with a pair of 20-minute practice sessions on Friday, 24 August.

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