Johnson storms to TCM victory
Reigning champion Steven Johnson has dominated Saturday’s first Touring Car Masters race at Bathurst with a clinical drive.
The #33 BRUT Ford Mustang was in a league of his own and shot to a 5s lead early before cruising to the chequered flag.
After setting a fastest lap that was almost a second clear of the next best, Johnson backed it off and eventually secured the victory by 1.4s.
Adam Garwood had to fight for his life to hold onto second in his VB Commodore ahead of Joel Heinrich.
Ryan Hansford was in that battle for the podium but dropped out of contention due to a puncture caused by a massive lockup at The Chase.
Off the rolling start polesitter Johnson shot clear of the field while Geoff Fane and Peter Burnitt came to blows in the run up to Hell Corner.
Adam Garwood fought for his life in the VB Commodore to keep grip of second. Image: Thomas Miles
Hansford held second until Garwood got a run up at The Chase and snatched second from the Torana.
The #33 Mustang needed just one lap to pull more than a 2s lead on the field as Garwood led a tight battle for second against the likes of Hansford and Heinrich.
Despite little separating the rivals, Garwood’s Commodore was able to keep his rivals at bay with his straight line speed and smart defending, while Hansford was throwing around his Torana.
By lap 5 Heinrich made it a tight three car battle and it was on for young and old with the trio harassing their machines.
Eventually Hansford pushed too hard on lap 5 when he had a massive lockup on the right front throughout the entire braking zone at The Chase.
The massive flat spot meant the Torana had nothing left to give and Heinrich stole third by Hell Corner before the rubber belt flew off completely halfway up Mountain Straight and he had to crawl to the chequered flag.
Despite the Torana dropping out, Garwood still had to fight to keep hold of second with Heinrich on his tail.
Just one tenth of a second split them at the finish while Angus Fogg and Jamie Tilley put in solid performances to start the year in the top five.
Touring Car Masters return at 14.10 AEDT.
Touring Car Masters race 1 results
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