Johnson completes TCM round win

Steven Johnson has opened his Touring Car Masters title defence with a round win at Bathurst after controlling the entertaining finale.

Johnson emerged in front after a crazy start where his #33 BRUT Mustang was three wide with Joel Heinrich and Adam Garwood going up Mountain Straight.

Despite the early battle, Johnson led every lap of the race to lead home the impressive Jamie Tilley by 2.5s.

He led home a tight bunch of cars with Ryan Hansford, Heinrich, Jim Pollicina and Danny Buzadzic all crossing the line within 3s of each other.

Johnson led Heinrich by just four points in the fight for the round win leading into the final race and they were side by side at the rolling start.

However, it was soon three wide as Garwood made an aggressive move to the inside on the entry of Mountain Straight.

The big winners were Johnson and Garwood who led the way and the big loser was Heinrich who was squeezed out and went from leading to sixth in the run from Mountain Straight to the Cutting.

Amid the reshuffling Jamie Tilley held third ahead of relative Cameron in fourth under pressure from Ryan Hansford and the Torana passed the Valiant at Murrays.

But Jamie Tilley was on the move and attacked Garwood to steal second. 

After a smoky run locking up at The Chase, the Tilley Mustang launched another counterattack on the VB Commodore up Mountain Straight.

After a thrilling run side by side through Griffins Bend, Tilley finally snatched second and was soon 2s up the road.

This forced Garwood to get his elbows out to keep the Hansford Torana behind.

A possible missed gear on the exit of the Chase allowed Hansford to cruise past before both Heinrich, Buzadzic and Pollicina all did the same up Mountain Straight to relegate car #2 to seventh.

The fight for third was far from over however as Heinrich hounded the back of Hansford.

John Adams’ Ford Falcon XY GT was unfortunately crawling down Conrod two and a half minutes from the finish due to a flat left front.

Johnson completed his second win of the weekend and round win by a commanding 2.5s.

Jamie Tilley held onto second, while Hansford held off Heinrich to secure the podium.

After an entertaining season opener back on the Supercars stage, Touring Car Masters return at Wanneroo on May 17-19.

Touring Car Masters race 3 results

2024 Bathurst 500 Supercars schedule

Friday, February 23

Practice 1: 1: B. Feeney 2: N. Percat 3: W. Brown

Practice 2: 1: W. Brown 2: T. Hazelwood 3: B. Feeney

Saturday, February 24

Qualifying: 1: B. Feeney 2: W. Brown 3: D. Reynolds

Top 10 Shootout: 1: W. Brown 2: B. Feeney 3: C. Mostert

Race 1 (40 laps): 16.10

Sunday, February 25

Qualifying: 09.30

Top 10 Shootout: 12.05

Race 2 (40 laps): 15.05

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