Ricciardello holds of Caruso to enhance title lead

Tony Ricciardello took advantage from the front of the grid in Race 2 of the Precision National Sports Sedans, holding off Jordan Caruso in another flag interrupted affair.

Race 1 winner Steve Tamasi was also forced to sit out with a wing issue, as did Birol Cetin, leaving Caruso with space to attack from P4.

Unfortunately it was another shortened affair in a time certain race, with both the Alfa Romeo GTV and the Audi A4 having their clear strengths in different sectors, but Ricciardello held his cool under pressure, taking advantage of his straight line speed to enhance his championship lead.

Tony Ricciardello takes the chequered flag to claim a Safety Car interrupted race two at Bathurst. Image: John Morris

Ashley Jarvis would miss out late on a second straight podium in his Monaro, with Angus Fogg in his 1970 Mustang taking advantage late before the final yellow dropped to take a maiden Sports Sedans podium on his OZ trip. 

Here’s how Race 2 unfolded…

The National Sports Sedans came out for Race 2 of their Bathurst 1000 return weekend, with Race 1 winner Steve Tamasi not appearing on track, leaving Ricciardello and Jarvis out front, whilst Caruso would start behind the Alfa.

Both Tamasi and Cetin were declared as no starters, with Tamasi’s on-again-off-again season continuing.

At the rolling start Caruso locked up slightly into the first corner and Ricciardello held the lead up Mountain straight.

He and Caruso quickly gapped the field, with Jarvis in third holding off Duggan, Humfrey and Fogg.

Ricciardello’s straight line speed gave him the edge to hold of Caruso throughout. Image: Peter Norton

Caruso was right on Ricciardello’s wing, but the championship leader lost him through The Chase after the #1 Audi went in a bit too deep to create a two seconds gap.

A few cars found their way off track, with Boschert’s Corvette off at Hell’s corner bringing out the first of two safety’s, which ran the time certain race down to under 10 minutes.

The safety car pulled in to leave seven minutes of racing left, and again the two front-runners gapped Jarvis quickly who had Fogg now hunting for a podium.

Caruso was again looking like a big threat, with the Audi finding time in the corners, and the Alfa superior on the straights.

Paul Boschert was a victim of first turn drama at Hell Corner. Image: John Morris

Shiels in the meantime had moved up to seventh form the rear, but just while the race was set up for a thrilling finish up-front with a tight mid-pack also jostling for spots, Newman went hard into the gravel at Murrays corner, going up on two wheels before stopping in the thick stuff after going in too late with his brakes. 

In the space before the race went yellow, Fogg had also passed Jarvis to take P3 to take his first Sports Sedan podium in the Fastback Mustang.

Ricciardello finished in front of Caruso to make it another victory for the year, taking some more valuable points in his hunt for yet another national title.

The final race of the weekend is set to get under way tomorrow at 11:15am.

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