BMW CONTINUE BATHURST 6 HOUR QUALIFYING DOMINATION

Tim Leahey took Beric Lynton’s M3 to the Bathurst 6 Hour pole position – Photo: InSyde Media

THE DOMINANCE of BMW in qualifying fastest continued for the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour continued today with Tim Leahey taking Beric Lynton’s M3 to pole position for tomorrow’s endurance race.

However, in the four-year history of the event, it won’t be a German marque shutout of the front row with Jordan Cox going second fastest in the Mitsubishi EVO X that he will share with his father Graeme and Daniel Smith.

Hamstrung with an exhaust drama at the start of the session, Iain and Grant (BMW M4) circulated quickly at the end to snare third spot 0.4s ahead of the similar car crewed by Anthony Soole and Andrew Fisher.

Fifth behind the four Class A1 (Extreme Performance, Forced Induction) was the Class B (High Performance) leader was David Russell in the BMW 135i he will share with his dad Geoff.

Garth Walden put his Evo in the top six – Photo: InSyde Media

Garth Walden made it two EVO Xs in the top six, sharing with brothers Ben and Michael Kavich, and ahead of the FPV Ford GTF shared by Jeremy Gray, George and Andrew Miedecke.

Zac Raddatz and Jack Winter qualified eighth in their EVO IX ahead of John Bowe in Joe Krinelos HSV GTS he’ll also share with Tony Virag, while Jayden Ojeda qualified 10th in the BMW M135i he’ll race with Simon Hodges and Iain Salteri.

Class A2 (Extreme Performance, Naturally Aspirated) was a tight battle for top honours with just 0.8 seconds covering the three fastest cars. Fastest was Nathan Callaghan in the Chris Lillis/Matt Holt shared HSV GTS Clubsport ahead of Rob Coulthard/Trevor Symonds HSV Monaro and the Anthony Gilbertson/Andrew Mill BMW M3.

Quickest in Class C (Performance) went to the Jake Williams/Rod Stait BMW, while David Baker and Brian Callaghan (Honda Integra) are in the fastest Class D (Production) entry, as Class E (Compact) honours went to the Chris Holdt/Alan Turner/Ross Donaldson Mazda 3.

MIDAS IMPROVED PRODUCTION

Matt Cherry won today’s two Improved Production races – Photo: InSyde Media

IN THE two races Matt Cherry (Holden Monaro) was the winner ahead of Chris Brown (Toyota AE86) and Adam Poole (Monaro).

There was no pole-sitting Ray Hislop Ford Falcon BF (CDI unit) on the grid for race one, nor the Commodore of Luke Grech Cumbo (brakes issues).

Cherry was beaten away by Jordan Cox (Datsun Turbo), but it didn’t take long for the Monaro driver to exert his authority, storming away to win ahead of Brown as Poole worked his way through to third. Cox was a retirement after two laps with an oil breather issue. It was a tight battle for fourth where Damien Milano (Commodore) held on ahead of Leigh Forrest (Toyota Celica Turbo), Marinelli (Nissan Silvia), Michael King and Andrew Sarandis (Mitsubishi EVOs).

In ninth was Kyle Organ-Moore just in front of Bob Brewer who was under challenge from the leading under 2.0-litre contender in Harrison Cooper until he crashed his Honda Integra at Skyline. The U2L honours went to Jason Hendy over Kurt Macready, both in Nissans.

It was the same top three in race two as Hislop stormed from the back of the grid to fourth, finishing in front of Milano who was penalised 5s for a starting infringement which dropped him to sixth behind Forrest. Macready turned the tables on Hendy be first of the under 2.0-litres.

HERITAGE TOURING CARS

Terry Lawlor led the way in Heritage Touring Cars – Photo: InSyde Media

AFTER TWO races, Terry Lawlor was not headed in his ex-Dick Johnson Racing Group A Ford Sierra RS500.

After qualifying second fastest Tony Karanfilovski (ex-Glenn Seton Sierra) was a first race non-starter after buzzing the engine. Steve Webb (ex-Colin Bond Sierra) forewent his fourth starting position to start rear of field, having stalled on the dummy grid.

Lawlor led from the outset, ahead of Cutler with Greg Keam third until losing a wheel at Murrays before the end of the opening lap. After a safety car period to retrieve the stranded Group A Ford Mustang, Lawlor covered Cutler for a narrow win. Behind the BMW came the Holden Commodores driven by Jeff Trembath, Mark Taylor, Milton Seferis and the David Towe M3.

In the next outing, Webb worked his way to second while Cutler and Trembath fell to fifth and sixth behind Taylor and Towe. The race was cut short following an incident involving Stephen Perrott and Anthony Sawford in their Holden Torana A9Xs.

HYUNDAI EXCELS

The battle for the lead in Excels – Photo: InSyde Media

IN A shortened opening race for the popular one-make series, Asher Johnston was able to ward off the challengers of Jordan Caruso and Michael Clemente.

Caruso tried to run around the outside of Johnston into Murrays Corner on the fourth lap but ran wide on the exit which allowed Clemente to sneak into second. Just after the line the race was red flagged, and the result was round back a lap. Leo Bondarenko and John Markwich had come into contact at Forest Elbow and not far away Brad Smith had a fire.

Johnston was the winner ahead of Caruso and Clemente. Cam Wilson was next ahead of Seiton Connor-Young, Liam Gretrix, Matt Wells, Brett Parrish and Nathan Blight.

It was almost dark by the time they hit the track for the second race where Johnston was the leader from the start, ahead of Caruso as Clemente passed Wilson at the start of the second lap.

Shortened to three laps due to fading light, Johnston took the win while Clemente passed Caruso for second. Fourth was Wilson ahead of Cameron Bartholomew, Connor-Young, Parrish, Wells and Blight.

CUE PRODUCTION SPORTS

Gary Higgon and Luke Youlden dominated the Production Sports race – Photo: InSyde Media

A LATE driver change for Gary Higgon being joined by Luke Youlden has helped them to a very handy 26.1 second victory in their Audi R8 LMS, in the first of two one-hour races.

Second went to Yasser Shahin (Audi) ahead of Dean Grant (BMW M6) and Keith Kassulke (MARC II V8). Next were Steve Voight and Aaron Tebb (Porsche GT3-R).

Sam Fillmore (Porsche 991) survived a 5s start penalty to hold on to sixth by a mere 0.07s over Adam Hargraves (MARC II V8) and Danny Stutterd (991).

Shahin led from the start ahead of Kassulke and Fillmore until the safety car was called when the Sergio Pires Porsche stopped on the circuit.

Higgon pitted under the safety car when the compulsory pit window opened for Youlden to take over, as did Grant who was seventh early on. Shahin and Kassulke left their stops to far later and lost their places (first and second) as a result.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.