Brilliant Burcher snares GT4 opener
Cody Burcher took GT4 Australia honours in the Phillip Island opener in stunning style alongside Tim Leahey.
Once the compulsory stops cycled out, Burcher emerged second in the #24 BMW M4 behind the #27 Mercedes of Antontio Astuti and Sam Brabham.
But Burcher sealed the deal with a stunning race-winning move.
After around 12 minutes of close quarters racing, Burcher sent it around the outside of Astuti at the wildly fast Doohan Corner.
The #27 Mercedes had no response to the special move and settled for second, finishing 1.2s adrift while Tom Hayman made a late move on Oscar Targett to take third.
In Pro Am Paul and Nash Morris pushed Shane Smollen/Lachlan Mineeff hard, but the Porsche prevailed, while Anthony Levitt put in an impressive drive on a tough weekend to win the Am class.
The Ford GT4 Mustang of Rylan Gray and Andrew Miedecke had to contend with a last-minute BOP adjustment with 25kg added to the #35.
Miedecke led from pole, but Quinn was looking very racey in the BMW and launched a successful assault at Miller Corner.
Despite losing the overall lead, Miedecke did not put up much of a fight with Quinn a Pro Am driver.
Anthony Levitt racing his way to an impressive result on GT4 Am victory for Method Motorsport.
John Bowe got off to a fast start to lead Am honours and quickly built a solid advantage over Levitt.
But just three laps of racing was possible before Steve Dukes had a wild moment at Doohan and hit the tyres off in the gravel, which brought out the Safety Car.
It was not until the 20 minute mark racing resumed and straight away Sam Brabham jumped Marcos Flack at restart.
The BMWs of Bowe and Augustine wrestled hard for the Am lead, going side by side down pit straight
Flack was the first to pit in the Method Motorsport McLaren alongside Leahey at the 26-minute mark.
Quinn quickly opened a 1.4s lead before Miedecke boxed on Lap 12 and an extra 15s proved costly for the Mustang with Targett, Burcher and Hayman all gaining track position.
The likes of Quinn, Mineeff and Morris all went long and waited until Lap 16 to be the last to box.
Due to Astuti, Burcher and Targett squabbling intensely over Lukey Heights, Jakic was able to rejoin from the pits in the #3 BMW with a 4s advantage.
But with the Pro Am the focus and not the outright win for Jakic, he allowed Astuti and Burcher through at MG with Pro Am. The campaign ended up being unsuccessful with Smollen catching and passing Jakic with 11 minutes left.
This ensured a thrilling 20-minute run to the flag for victory with Astuti just ahead of Burcher.
On Lap 25 the BMW had a look on approach to Miller Corner and MG, but could not get up far enough.
However, Burcher nailed it on the following lap in grand style.
He sent it around the outside of Astuti at the wildly fast Doohan Corner and used all the track on exit to make it stick.
Astuti had no response and settled for second with all eyes now on the ever-tightening battle for third.
Hayman made a late move on Targett, but behind them was the much-faster Gray.
In the end Hayman had good late race pace in the McLaren to retain the podium.
This proved critical with Hayman able to gain points on Gray, who could only jump Targett and get fourth. The difference between the championship leaders is now just six points.
The second GT4 race at the Phillip Island GT Festival at 11.10 AEST on Sunday morning.
GT4 Australia Phillip Island Race 1 results
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