Special Bathurst round win for iconic Alfa and driver

It was a great finish to the round for the Precision National Sports Sedans, with their first trip back to Bathurst since 1992 finishing with a fitting win for Tony Ricciardello and his iconic Alfa Romeo GTV.

How often will you see a thirty plus year-old machine pull nearly 300km/ph on Mount Panorama, let alone it being steered by a driver who holds a record amount of national racing titles on the cusp of another one?

The National Sports Sedans finale was a green race in perfect conditions in front of an appreciative Bathurst crowd that loved it the one-of-a-kind improved production machinery that put up scintillating lap times, with Jordan Caruso pulling in-race sub-2:04’s in his Audi A4.

Shiels (L) Ricciardello, and Carsuo (R) celebrate on the podium after Race 3. Image: John Morris

But he still couldn’t reel in Ricciardello, who’s 1984 Alfa Romeo GTV claimed its second race win of the weekend to take the round and pull one-step closer to an 12th Sports Sedans title.

When it was announced Ricciardello was returning after a three year absence, there were plenty of happy race fans that would be happy to see both driver and car return. 

And probably none would be happier than the ones that saw it at Mount Panorama, who could be heard talking aloud in the paddocks and recognising that the Alfa has indeed become an Aussie racing icon.

The driver himself was over the moon, celebrating on the main game podium in his retro race suit alongside Caruso, and third place race getter, Brad Shiels.

“It’s pretty exciting I have to tell you,” Ricciardello told AUTO ACTION at the podium.

“Just the whole emotion of even racing at the track in the Sports Sedans with the Alfa and on top of that getting a good result…we had a bit of a busy weekend that’s for sure – a lot of things happen here that don’t happen on any other race track.

“You come here and you have a little failures or little electronic gremlins that pop up, and it was good just to get a good result and finish off in one piece.”

After losing the lead at Turn 1, Ricciardello blew past Caruso on Mountain Straight to set up the victory. Image: John Morris

On the category success itself, he was equally pleased for what they could deliver on a difficult track, where like he said, the challenges are immensely different that anywhere else.

“The category is definitely on the way up, there was so much excitement about it here, which was great to see, and great to be around,” he continued.

“I’ve had fans from Perth and everywhere coming over saying how much they love seeing this car, and it just shows the raw appeal of the Sports Sedans, and that it’s loved by everyone.”

Next up the Precision National Sports Sedans head to the Gold Coast 500 for another Supercars support act on October 27-29, and next year, Supercars fans can expect even more action for the best looking and most unique category in the country.

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