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BATHURST 6 HOUR: SHERRINS FASTEST AND BLOW GEARBOX

Grant and Iain Sherrin led the way in Bathurst 6 Hour practice - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Grant and Iain Sherrin led the way in Bathurst 6 Hour practice - Photo: InSyde Media

Grant and Iain Sherrin led the way in Bathurst 6 Hour practice – Photo: InSyde Media

IT WAS a BMW one-two fastest by the end of two practice sessions, leading into Hi-Tec Oil Bathurst 6 Hour at Mount Panorama this Easter long weekend.

Grant and Iain Sherrin led the way in their M4, but it didn’t come without problems with the 2018 winning car blowing its gearbox near the end of the second session.

Their session ended early after a gearbox failure - Photo: InSyde Media

Their session ended early after a gearbox failure – Photo: InSyde Media

Second fastest was Beric Lynton and Tim Leahey (M3) who had to overcome an early front-end vibration while third quickest was the Mitsubishi EVO X piloted by Jordan Cox, Graeme Cox and Daniel Smith.

John Bowe, Tony Virag and Joe Krinelos (HSV GTS) made it four Class A1 (Extreme Performance, Force Induction) cars at the top of the time sheets and they were the best of the Australian-built machinery.

Fifth quickest was the son and father combination of David and Geoff Russell in the leading Class B (High Performance) BMW 135i just in front of the Garth Walden Racing team cars. Michael Auld, Richard Bloomfield and Brian Walden (Mercedes Benz AMG A45) was fractionally faster than the EVO X shared by Garth Walden, Michael and Ben Kavich.

Iain Salteri, Simon Hodges and Jayden Ojeda (BMW M135i) were next, narrowly quicker than the Jeremy Gray, George Miedecke and Andrew Miedecke (FPV Falcon GT-F).

Best of the A2 (Extreme Performance, Naturally Aspirated) class were Rob Coulthard and Trevor Symonds and of Chris Lillis/Nathan Callaghan/Matthew Holt (HSV VF Clubsport).

Class C (Performance) saw James Goldsbrough, Gavin Driscoll and Jake White (BMW 130i) on top while Class D (Production) was close with just 0.3 seconds splitting David Baker/Brian Callaghan (Honda Integra) and Jimmy Vernon/Harrison Gray (Toyota 86). The Compact Class E went to last year’s winners, Andrew McMaster, David Noble and David Worrell (Mazda 3 SP25).

Incidents for the Subaru Impreza WRX STi (tyre blow-out at 233kmh) and one of the Hyundai i30Ns (crash turn 1) have set back the programs for Dimitri Agathos/Matt Boylan/Graeme Heath and Charlie Senese/Alfie Senese/Jake Camilleri respectively.

SUPPORTS

Graham Lusty's fire headlined the support category program - Photo: InSyde Media

Graham Lusty’s fire headlined the support category program – Photo: InSyde Media

IN QUALIFYING for the CUE Sports Car Enduro Interclub Championship which also doubles as the opening round of the GT-1 Australia Championship, Keith Kassulke (MARC II V8) was fastest ahead of Yasser Shahin (Audi R8 LMS) while a similar Audi, shared by Dean Grant and Gary Higgon was third. But the headline was the fire in Graham Lusty’s Mosler which brought interrupted the morning’s practice session.

RAY Hislop set the pace in Improved Production - Photo: InSyde Media

RAY Hislop set the pace in Improved Production – Photo: InSyde Media

EXPECTANTLY RAY Hislop headed up the qualifying run aboard his Ford Falcon BF for the Midas Bathurst Improved Production Challenge Cup, showing the way to Matt Cherry (Holden Monaro) while Chris Brown (Toyota AE86 Turbo) was third of the 54-car field.

IT WAS a Ford one-two-three in qualifying among the Heritage Touring Cars. Terry Lawlor and Tony Karanfilovski (Sierra RS 500s) showed the way ahead of Greg Keam (Mustang) with Steve Webb (Sierra) fourth.

Asher Johnston was the benchmark in the Excels - Photo: InSyde Media

Asher Johnston was the benchmark in the Excels – Photo: InSyde Media

SHOWING A clean set of heels among the 50 Hyundai Circuit Excels, Asher Johnston was the fastest by one second over Jordan Caruso. But it was tight behind the latter where Adam Bywater, Cam Wilson and David Wood filled out the next positions.

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