CAMERON RETURNS TO FORM WITH TCR WIN

Aaron Cameron has produced a dominant performance in the opening race of the TCR Australia Series round at Mount Panorama, winning from pole in a lights-to-flag effort.

As has been the case so far this weekend, Peugeot’s dominated proceedings taking all the podium positions – Ben Bargwanna was second in his Garry Rogers Motorsport Peugeot 308 TCR, while Dylan O’Keeffe took the last spot on the steps.

Cameron was only challenged at the very beginning of the race, Bargwanna nearly stealing the lead into Turn 1 before Cameron regained the lead down the inside.

“I was just waiting for Benny to brake, he braked really late and then gave us plenty of room which is good,” Cameron said.

“The car is mega on cold tyres, we got a nice gap and just maintained that.

“It was good and we got ourselves a trophy.

“S5000 last year we were really fast. The boys at the GRM workshop, massive effort to get these cars set up better than they were last year and it’s really showing, three of us on the podium and I think Coxy had a mechanical failure but he would have been fourth for sure.”

Jordan Cox was looking likely to follow them to the flag before his Peugeot overheated, forcing him to pull to the side of the road and retire from the race. It’s yet unknown whether his car will be ready to go for Race 2.

Will Brown surged through the field to take fourth in his Melbourne Performance Centre Audi, ahead of James Moffat.

Series newcomer Tim Slade and Tony D’Alberto made it two Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R cars in sixth and seventh.

HMO Customer Racing Hyundai teammates Josh Buchan and Bailey Sweeny clinched eighth and ninth, the latter charging hard throughout the race.

Michael Caruso rounded out the top 10, taking reverse grid pole following repairs to his Alfa after qualifying.

Brad Shiels and Nathan Morcom drove their Hyundai’s to 11th and 12th.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.