Double for McLeod as Ricciardello nears title No.12

Cameron McLeod took a dominant win in Race 2 at the Gold Coast 500, and the Precision National Sports Sedans title has come close to being decided as Tony Ricciardello fought back whilst Jordan Caruso’s Audi A4 hit trouble.

McLeod’s dream debut weekend continued in the MARC GT SS, whilst there were huge title implications as both Caruso and Jarvis found strife, whilst the podium ended with Ricciardello and Angus Fogg in a distant second and third.

Ricciardello had a 33 point lead going into the race, but now will just be looking to finish Race 3 to secure an incredible 12th national title, whilst McLeod is in the box seat for a debut round sweep.

Ricciardello is in the box seat for a 12th national title with a P2 in Race 2. Image/main Image: John Morris

Race 2 of the Precision National Sports Sedans got underway with McLeod and Caruso on the front row over Jarvis and Humfrey.

Ricciardello would start down the field after having plug-lead issues in Race 1, with the championship leader looking to charge up the field in need of some valuable points after Caruso made some headway into his lead in the opener with a 33 point difference heading into Race 2.

Brad Shiels also didn’t make the grid in the Fiat, pulling into the pits prior to the rolling start, with rain also threatening to fall as the wind rolled in to make it a greasy track with the field on the slicks.

McLeod pulled it up well at Turn 1 to take the early lead, and again looked threateningly quick, whilst Jarvis held third.

There was heartbreak for Jordan Caruso who came to a stop on the entry to the hairpin which resulted in a very costly DNF. Image: John Morris

Everyone made it through safely after the first lap, and Ricciardello had crept up to P12 early.

Caruso stuck with McLeod with the track grip evolving, and kept within one second, with Jarvis was six seconds back holding the podium over Humfrey and Fogg in the XE Falcon and 1970 Mustang with a good battle emerging there.

Ricciardello kept improving by taking P6 from Currie, whilst tragedy struck Caruso as he stopped on track at Turn 4, which more or less put the championship into the hands of Ricciardello, whilst Jarvis moved into second to keep his hopes alive.

Ricciardello moved into third over Humfrey and was only two seconds behind Jarvis for second, whilst McLeod was tearing away with an 18s lead in the MARC GT.

The Alfa driver got it done for second to put himself on the front row for tomorrow, but also ran wide to hit the tyre bundle to cause some aero issues.

The lead for the #96 MARC car was over 20 seconds, whilst Ricciardello managed the to Jarvis.

There was also a great battle between Currie and Camilleri Marc Mustang and Mazda, whilst the podium looked more than settled as the clock wound down, with Ricciardello in the box seat for a 12th title as Jarvis then made contact with Humfrey late at Turn 11 to drop big points.

That put Fogg onto the podium in his Mustang Fastback over Currie and Humfrey, whilst Jarvis would be registered in P11. 

The Sports Sedans return at 12.00 AEDT Sunday.

Image: John Morris

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