GARRY’S GOLD COAST 600 SUPPORT WRAP – SATURDAY
Ryan Millier took the opening win on the Gold Coast – Photo: InSyde Media
THE SECOND day of racing for the support categories to the Vodafone Gold Coast 600 featured enduros for GTs and Porsches and sprints for the others.
AUSTRALIAN GTs
A QUICKER compulsory pitstop gave Ryan Millier the leg-up he needed to take out the first one-hour of the penultimate round. It was tight towards the end with Millier (Lamborghini Huracan) just in front of Peter Hackett (Mercedes-AMG GT3) and Fraser Ross (McLaren 720S GT3). Ross had the longest stop but was further delayed with a brake fire.
Lapped traffic in the closing stages allowed Millier the gap he needed to consolidate victory as Hackett held off Ross until a slight error from the McLaren driver put some distance between them.
Tony Quinn (Aston Martin Vantage) finished fourth in both outright and the Championship class, the four completing 47 laps. Behind them were the MARC V8 quartet with Geoff Taunton ahead of Adam Hargraves in their MARC IIs, and Broc Feeney and Bayley Hall (MARC Is).
Geoff Emery (Audi R8 LMS Evo) ran conservatively for ninth ahead of the Trophy class’ Dale Paterson (Chev Camaro), Joseph Ensabella (Porsche (997), Nick Karnaros (Porsche 991) and Peter Corbett (Lamborghini).
In the GT4s Justin McMillan and Glenn Wood had a just 0.7s on KTM X-Bow team mate Trent Harrison, and five laps on Todd O’Brien (Ginetta G50). Richard Gartner (Gallardo) was the only non-finisher, brushing the wall when hit by the lapping Hargraves who in turn was being lapped by Millier.
PORSCHE PAYCE CARRERA CUP AUSTRALIA
David Wall took out the final Carrera Cup endurance race – Photo: InSyde Media
GRABBING THE lead from the outset, David Wall took out the final Endurance Cup race for the year, the first of the final round of the championship proper.
A first lap safety car did little to upset Wall’s run and he won the race by 3.7s over the endurance series-within-a-series overall winner Jordan Love. Lover was pressed by Cooper Murray while the pair had just over 3s on fourth placed Dale Wood.
The safety car was brought about by Adrian Flack crashing at turn 11 and with the TAG Heuer Pro Am points leader out of the race, Sam Shahin was the class winner, finishing ninth outright.
Cameron Hill was fifth across the line ahead of Michael Almond, Nick McBride and Steve Richards. McBride lost a couple of spots off the line and settled into seventh. Even a spin late in the race late in the race at the top of the circuit didn’t affect his position but it did put Thomas Maxwell out as a result of contact.
Tenth was Aaron Love who had skirmish with fellow GT3 Cup Challenge Harri Jones that put the latter into the tyre wall. Second in Pro Am was Liam Talbot just in front of Tim Miles with Dean Cook shadowing them to the flag, and then followed Roger Lago and Scott Taylor.
AUSSIE RACING CARS
Kel Treseder took this mornings Aussie Racing Car win – Photo: InSyde Media
BOTH SATURDAY races featured safety cars on the opening lap. In race two of the penultimate round Matt Nolan (Mustang) crashed at turn 4, while the third race went cautionary when Charlotte Pontying (Mustang) failed to get off the start line.
Kel Treseder (Camaro) backed up from Friday to take the morning outing fending off Joel Heinrich (Aurion) and Justin Ruggier (Mustang). Behind them it was Josh Anderson (Camaro) ahead of a pair of dicing Mustang in the hands of Kody Garland and Blake Sciberras.
Race three was the traditional reverse of top ten finishers from the result of the previous outing. Leigh Bowler (Camaro) led until passed by Kyle Ensbey (Mustang). The front runners from race two were making their way through, headed by Treseder after Heinrich struck engine dramas and pitted.
Treseder was able to forge his way to the front and victory as Ensbey kept Ruggier behind to the flag. Bowler finished fourth in front of Anderson, Luke Van Herwaarde (Camaro), Reece Chapman (Camaro), Garland and Sciberras.
ECB SUPERUTES
Ryal Harris won the SuperUtes opener – Photo: InSyde Media
THE OPENING race for round seven was won by Ryal Harris in his Mazda BT50. The pacesetter from practice yesterday was gazumped in qualifying by Tom Alexander (Isuzu D-MAX) who then led the opening lap before Harris passed him.
Alexander held second for the duration ahead of Ben Walsh (Toyota Hilux). Fourth throughout was Cameron Crick (Mitsubishi Triton) ahead of Craig Woods (Hilux) who just held out Ben Falk (BT50). Gerard Maggs (Hilux) was seventh, Toby Price (Triton) battled engine oil pressure issues to be next ahead of Christopher Formosa (Ford Ranger) and Jaiden Maggs (Triton).
STADIUM SUPER TRUCKS
RACE ONE was taken out by Robbie Gordon who came through from the rear of grid to just win ahead of Matt Brabham and Gavin Harlien. Despite coming off the beach chicane jump and spinning around, Toby Price managed to hold onto the lead and led until contact with Brabham at turn 11 on the last lap resulted in another pirouette.
Greg Biffle was next across the line ahead of Russell Ingal and the recovering Price. Bill Hynes was next from Paul Morris who spun earlier and then couldn’t avoid Cole Potts when he bounced off the concrete at turn 12. Matt Nolan was a first lap casualty, a result of wall contact on lap one.
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