GARRY’S WINTON SUPERSPRINT SUPPORT WRAP – SUNDAY

Steve Johnson remains unbeaten after three rounds – Photo: InSyde Media

THE SUPPORT categories at the Truck Assist Winton SuperSprint completed their rounds on day three and featured tight racing in TCM, Super 3 and Excels. There was another rollover in SuperUtes and penalties aplenty in Formula Fords.

PAYNTER DIXON TOURING CAR MASTERS

STEVEN JOHNSON remains unbeaten after three rounds with another threepeat at Winton today. At the helm of his Ford Mustang, Johnson warded off the Holden Torana challengers to record his 42nd and 43rd TCM race victories and extend his championship lead.

In the day’s first outing he was pressured for much of the race by Ryan Hansford (Torana A9X) before gaining a small break when John Bowe (A9X) challenged for second place. Ultimately Hansford had a brake issue and fired off at turn seven.

Third place went to Adam Garwood (Chev Camaro) after many hard-fought laps with Ryal Harris (Camaro) who had an alternator failure later and finished eighth. Ahead were Jim Pollicina (A9X) in front of the dicing Markus Zukanovic (Ford Falcon XD) and Aaron Seton (Mustang), and Hansford. Adam Bressington (Camaro) was fourth in the early stages until a spin put him well down the order.

The pressure on Johnson in the next race came from Bowe with less than half a second between them at the chequered flag after the Mustang driver had a slight hiccup at turn nine on the final lap.

Third went to Garwood while Pollicina was fourth, just in front of Seton and Bressington. Then followed Zukanovic, Hansford, Harris and Bruce William (Torana SL/R 500) in tenth.

KUMHO TYRE SUPER 3

Jayden Ojeda took his first Super3 win – Photo: InSyde Media

IT WAS a thrilling finale to the second round where Jayden Ojeda and Anderson Motorsport emerged as not only the winners of the race, but also took out the round.

The longer and points-weighted race had four lead changes before Ojeda (ex-Ford Performance Racing Falcon FG) took over on the penultimate lap to win. Second went to Hamish Ribarits (Matt White Motorsport ex-FPR FG) from Broc Fenney at the wheel of the Paul Morris Motorsport ex-Dick Johnson Racing FG.

There was an early safety car due to Josh Fife spinning his Brad Jones Racing Holden Commodore VE and it was then hit by Tony Auddino’s Falcon BF. On race resumption Zak Best (MWM FG) led until passed by team mate Nic Carroll on lap four.

Best returned to the front a lap later but lost out to his other team mate Ribarits on lap nine. Almost immediately Best’s FG lost drive and pulled off at turn eight. Jon McCorkindale (ex-DJR FG) was another retiree after contact with Carroll out of turn 2.

Ojeda won by 0.3s over Ribarits who now leads the series. Behind Feeney came Image Racing’s Matt McLean (ex-Stone Brothers Racing FG). Fifth-placed Chris Smerdon (Matt Stone Racing ex-SBR FG) was the first of the Kumho Cup class ahead of Emil Duggan (ex-Kelly Racing VE) and Jim Pollicina (Geoff Emery’s ex-Triple 8 VE).

FORMULA FORDS

Angelo Mouzouris clean swept the Formula Ford round – Photo: InSyde Media

RACE TWO came under safety car conditions almost immediately as Ben D’Alia and his Spectrum were left stranded on the grid. Liam McLellan had made an excellent getaway to be the leader, but at the restart was passed by Tom Sargent and Callum Hedge in their Mygales. The pair along with Jay Hanson (Mygale) would be docked 15s for starting infringements.

On track it was Sargent leading until he was passed by Hedge who won the race. Sargent crossed the line second ahead of Hanson and the trio were relegated to eighth, 11th and 12th respectively. The victory went to Angelo Mouzouris ahead of McLellan, and fellow Spectrum drivers, Cody Donald, Cody Burcher and Jake Donaldson.

Mouzouris made it a clean sweep of wins when he won the third race. He had a more than substantial lead over McLellan when the safety car emerged, caused by Hank Perkins (Mygale) going off at turn nine. After the race resumed, he had to cover Hedge to the finish while immediately behind were Donald, Burcher, Hanson, Soutar and Donaldson. McLellan fell down the order and finished 11th.

ECB SUPERUTES

Drama at the start of the SuperUtes – Photo: InSyde Media

THE FINAL race for round three finished in a one-lap sprint to the finish after a couple of dramatic opening laps preceded a lengthy safety car.

Cameron Crick (Mitsubishi Triton) was the initial front runner until he clashed with Tom Alexander (Isuzu D-Max) at turn three which allowed Toby Price (Triton) into the lead. On lap two Gerard Maggs (Toyota Hilux) was spun around at turn two.

Craig Woods was left nowhere to go, hit the Maggs Triton and his similar ute rolled. Ryal Harris was another who was caught out and he too hit Maggs, causing race-ending damage to his Mazda BT50. Chris Formosa (Ford Ranger) was also involved while Keven Stoopman (Holden Colorado) was lucky to escape the melee virtually unscathed.

At the late resumption, Price held off Alexander while Crick was third just in front of Ben Falk (BT50) and a three abreast battle to the line involving Ben Walsh, Stoopman and Jaiden Maggs (Triton).

HYUNDAI EXCELS

Ben Grice took the wins in the Excels – Photo: InSyde Media

THERE WAS an early safety car in race three, brought about when Preston Breust was jettisoned into the tyre wall at turn two. When the race went green it was battle between Ben Grice and Michael Clemente with the lead changing on a couple of occasions.

Ultimately Grice gained the upper hand and had a 1.3s advantage at the chequered flag. Clemente slipped up at turn seven which relegated him to sixth. On the last lap Asher Johnston who had diced with Jordan Caruso, was third until his rival slipped past on the final lap. Cooper Webster was next with Cam Wilson right behind.

Caruso won the drag off the start of the fourth race, showing the way to Grice, Johnston, Webster, Wilson and Clemente. In the latter stages, Grice worked is way past Caruso and struck clear. The former leader then held off Webster and Johnston for second. Clemente passed Wilson on the final lap while Nathan Blight was next, having slipped past Brett Parrish mid-race.

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