Boys runs down teammate to go back to back

Jordan Boys has gone back to back in Trans Am at Tasmania after overhauling Racing Academy teammate Elliott Cleary.

Cleary could dream of a maiden Trans Am win when he got the jump off the line but he could not prevent Boys from retaking the lead on lap 6.

Unfortunately for Cleary he slumped from second to fifth on the final lap sprint as Elliott Barbour and James Golding made some opportunistic moves to steal podium places in the final two corners.

With James Moffat down in Boys made another massive inroad in the championship race. 

“The car was mega and I am really happy,” Boys said in victory lane.

“Bummed my teammate is not up here. I was trying to size him up for a number of laps but did not want to dive too early and make sure I was close enough because it was very tricky off line.

“Elliott was nice to me though.”

Cleary got a storming start to shoot clear of Boys and enjoy an untroubled run through the tight turn 2 left hander.

With Boys slotting in behind it was a Racing Academy 1-2 with Barbour holding third as Moffat climbed two spots to fourth and Hazelwood was squeezed on the exit of the hairpin in sixth.

Hazelwood did not stay there for long as fellow Supercars driver Tim Slade stole sixth.

Despite Cleary’s dream getaway, he was unable to shake off Boys as his more experienced teammate reeled him in.

By lap 6 Boys was able to get the better of his younger teammate at turn 6.

Further back in the pack Tom Davies went off at turn 6, while Chris Pappas spun at hairpin.

James Moffat suddenly found himself on the defensive as GRM teammate James Golding snuck past to snare fourth and when they arrived at the hairpin Todd Hazelwood launched a counterattack.

The pair ran side by side the entire length of the back straight where the TFH Racing driver was able to take fifth from the reigning champion who lost two spots in as many laps.

By the halfway mark Boys had opened a 2.6s lead over Cleary who led a four car train but had a couple of lock ups at turn 2.

Tom Hayman dropped out of contention with his car locked in gears. He initially stopped at turn 3 under the bridge but was able to crawl back to the pits.

Herne and Thornburrow were entertaining in their battle for the final spot in the top 10.

Herne was a man on a mission starting 15th and sent it down the inside of the hairpin but overcooked it, which allowed the #116 back through, only to get very unsettled at the end of the lap.

Herne’s second attempt was successful at turn 6 to return to the top 10.

On lap 18 a curveball was thrown in the form of a Safety Car due to two grass fires lined up on the entry and exit of the hairpin.

It set up a one-lap sprint and the two Racing Academy Mustangs were able to enjoy some breathing space immediately.

However, Barbour threw his Camaro down the inside of Cleary at the hairpin and stole second at the end of the back straight.

As a result Cleary was stuck on the outside and both Golding and Hazelwood snuck by to demote the youngster from second to fifth.

Trans Am race 2 results

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