GARRY’S AMRS SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK WRAP – SATURDAY

Russell Ingall racing in the Stadium Super Trucks at Sydney Motorsport Park – Photo: InSyde Media

THE BOOST Mobile Stadium Super Trucks livened up day one of the Australian Motor Racing Series at Sydney Motorsport Park – not that it need it with the first races in the final rounds of the Formula Ford National Series and the Performax TA2 Muscle Car Series, as well as the regular AMRS series’.

NATIONAL FORMULA FORD SERIES

Hamish Ribarits closed the gap in the Formula Ford championship – Photo: InSyde Media

HAMISH RIBARITS scored pole for round seven of the Formula Fords over teammate and series leader Hunter McElrea, and led from the start. Nathan Herne slotted into second spot and grabbed the lead entering the final lap. But Ribarits struck back on the charge to the line, edging out Herne by just 0.0064s. McElrea was third and his lead over Ribarits has diminished to just four points.

PERFORMAX TA2 MUSCLE CAR SERIES

Aaron Seton was uncatchable in TA2 – Photo: InSyde Media

IN THE two outings for TA2, Aaron Seton was uncatchable in the Craig Harris-owned Ford Mustang, leading each race from lights-out to chequered flag. George Miedecke (Dodge Challenger) held second in the first until a puncture put him out of contention. That left series leader Ashley Jarvis (Chev Camaro) second ahead of Drew Ridge, also in a Camaro.

The second race was interrupted by a safety car where Mark Crutchers (Dodge) crashed at turn five. When the racing resumed Ridge tried a move on Jarvis at turn two, but spun and was hit by Miedecke and Russell Wright (Mustang). Jarvis finished second with Miedecke recovering for third.

MAZDA RX8 CUP

Ric Shaw won both RX8 Cup races – Photo: InSyde Media

AFTER QUALIFYING fastest for only the second time this season went on to win both races at the penultimate round. Shaw lost out at the start of race one and trailed Stephen McLaine until slipping past him at turn nine. From there he edged away to win while Terry Lewis finished third.

In race two Shaw was better off the line to lead all the way ahead of McLaine. Third went to New Zealander Aaron Prosser after an intense battle involving Terry Lewis, Will Cauchi and Nick Dunkley. The latter two had a slight touch at turn one, both spearing off in the sand trap and the race finished behind a safety car.

LEGEND CARS AUSTRALIA

Legend Cars on waiting to take to the track – Photo: InSyde Media

CONTINUING HIS winning ways, James Burge took out both Legend Cars races. The first was relatively easy ahead of Regan Angel, Zane Morse and Rick Christy. The second was more difficult with Burge duelling with Angel and Morse until Angel spun at turn two and Morse stopping on top of the tunnel with a suspected engine failure. Brendan Hourigan was able to pass Christy in the latter stages to snare second while Ben Jagger was fourth.

IROC/COMBINED SEDANS

IROC Cars leading the combined field – Photo: InSyde Media

FORGING THROUGH from down the field, Lachlan Harburg (Porsche Carrera) won the first of two races ahead of Greg Keene (IROC Porsche 911). Terry Knight (IROC) ran third until he was pipped on the line by Rohan Little who was racing the absent Sven Burchartz IROC Porsche.

Nic Marentis (IROC) was next ahead Gavin Ross (Group 4 Holden Commodore) who was the best of the combined sedans, finishing sixth outright ahead of Brent Edwards (Super 6 Ford Falcon BA). In the Utes Richard Mork (Commodore) was the winner.

Early in race two Harburg and Keene duelled before the latter eased ahead. Little, Knight and Marentis were line astern in the battle for third. Ross started poorly, leaking several places before striking back to another sixth ahead of Edwards. Mork again headed up the Utes.

STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS

Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks – Photo: InSyde Media

THE EVENTS’ drawcard Stadium Super Trucks raced once where series leader Matt Brabham took the win ahead of Gavin Harlein and Cole Potts. Series supremo Robby Gordon had a couple of moments at turn one which cost him spot, finished fourth ahead of Jeff Hoffman, 2017 series winner Paul Morris and category debutant Russell Ingall. Matt Nolan started off pole but had a huge moment of the ramp at the top of the tunnel and nearly rolled – he finished eighth.

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