Walls fends off Vidau in the dark

The third Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race at Albert Park was a short, but dramatic affair with Jackson Walls fending off Max Vidau.

After Vidau won the first points paying race on Friday, Walls hit back by taking the honours of the third and final race of the weekend where the heavens opened under the setting sun.

The race finished under the control of the safety car with Walls leading Vidau home and young Kiwi Callum Hedge completing the podium.

Walls got the jump off the line and led the frantic first stanza as some cars found trouble in behind.

Christian Pancione was one of those, having a major off at Turn 13 on Lap 5, but was able to continue.

Up front Walls was controlling the field, but Vidau was closing in, setting the fastest laps in the field.

After controlling the first seven laps, Vidau was all over the back of Walls after the former slid off at Turn 1 and a fierce battle for the lead ensued.

Vidau had a look at Turn 3 and the pair ran side by side through the following left-right car park section.

The #72 car looked to have snatched the lead, but Walls regained it with a gutsy move at Turn 6.

To add to the drama, heavy showers arrived turning the Albert Park street track into a skating rink on a slick tyre.

With four laps remaining, the rain coming down and light rapidly reducing, the safety car was called into action, which marked the end of the race.

It confirmed Walls’ win and ended any hope of Vidau going back to back, while Tim Miles was the only casualty of the race.

The result means Walls and Vidau share the championship lead on 114 points having both shared the wins.

Hedge emerged third in the championship with 97 points, while Dale Wood, Nick McBride, David Russell and Angelo Mouzouris in a tightly bunched battle for the minor places.

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