GARRY’S BATHURST 1000 SATURDAY SUPPORT WRAP
Heavy rain stopped the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia from having a second race at the Repco Bathurst 1000 on day three. However the other support categories managed to race prior to the deluge, reports AUTO ACTION’s Garry O’Brien.
TOYOTA GAZOO RACING AUSTRALIA 86 SERIES
The rains came for the second race which was red flagged on the fourth lap when two cars spun at the Chase, one of which (Alex Hadden) ended up on its side against the other (Bradi Owen).
Prior to that, just after the start, James Holdsworth and Luke Vanna clashed and hit the wall opposite the Mountain Straight entry. The latter came off worse.
Zach Bates is getting it done at Bathurst to push into title contention
Meanwhile at the front around seven ran wide at turn two where Zach Bates led Ryan Gilroy as Lachlan Gibbon snuck up the order . . . just before the safety car was deployed. With the resumption Bates was able to hold off Gilroy after the two went side-by-side from Turn 2 right up to the top of the Cutting.
When the reds came out, Gibbons was still third ahead of Campbell Logan, Bailey Sweeny, Lachlan Bloxsom, Ryan Casha, Jayden Hume and Jobe Stewart in tenth place.
HALTECH V8 SUPERUTES
The first of two races had the grid top six reversed from the Friday race result for half points. From the second row Dontas made the best lift-off and was almost immediately in the lead. Woods and Walsh were second and third as polesitter Gutierrez dropped to fifth behind Borg.
Craig Woods in the #64 Hilux took out the reversed grid Race 2
Dean Brooking also had a good start, however he had brief contact with Ellexandra Best and right turned into the pit straight wall. After a brief safety car, Woods and Walsh relegated Dontas and proceeded to edged away. Walsh took the lead on Conrod Straight before Woods did the same a couple of laps later and held on to win. Borg was third ahead of Sieders, Gutierrez and Dontas.
In the later race Sieders was the early leader until Borg passed him at Griffin Bend on lap three. Walsh was third through the first lap before a massive tank slapper out of Hell Corner on lap two dropped him down the order.
Yesterdays race winner Aaron Borg takes out Race 3 and the outright victory.
His teammate Woods had third for the duration before a five-second start line penalty slotted him back to fourth behind Dontas. Rohan Barry finished sixth ahead of the recovering Walsh after Gutierrez retired to the pits.
HERITAGE REVIVAL
As with race two on Friday, the third and final outing began behind the safety car. But unlike the former event, this one went green after two laps.
It was an entertaining three race laps, particularly between the trio where after a few position changes, Terry Lawlor (Group C Ford Falcon XD) edged out Doug Barbour (Group S Porsche 911 Carrera) with Greg Keam (Group A Ford Mustang) not far behind them.
The Doug Barbour Porsche 911 came in P2 behind Lawlor’s XD. Photo: Mark Horsburgh
Brothers Luke and Jack Harrison in their Group N Mustang ran in unison throughout for fourth and fifth while Stephen Axisa (Group C Holden Commodore) and Brian Henderson (Group C Nissan Bluebird) both passed Glenn Gerstel (Group C Falcon XE) on the last lap.
The latter was just ahead of Nathan Gordon (Group N Holden Monaro HQ) and Michael Cross (Group N Holden Torana XU-1). Mike Roddy was next in his damaged Jaguar XJS after he had wall contact at Griffin Bend earlier.
