Mostert/Talbot cruise to vital victory
Chaz Mostert and Liam Talbot completed their perfect Saturday by dominating the GT World Challenge Australia opener, whilst some title rivals suffered tyre troubles.
Talbot flew from pole before Mostert completed a commanding lights to flag triumph by 6s over Alex Peroni and Mark Rosser.
Completing the podium were Declan Fraser and Peter Hackett in the Triple Eight Mercedes, but they only jumped to the podium thanks to some late drama.
Third place looked destined for Brendon Leitch, but his run of record-breaking laps proved too much for his right rear tyre.
As a result the Audi slumped to 14th, while the sister Arise Racing Ferrari of Jaxon Evans also suffered the same fate and fell from fourth to 10th inside the final five minutes.
The last-minute tyre drama meant that Mostert/Talbot have jumped clear by 10 points in the standings after the top three were covered by just three points heading into the race.
As Talbot rocketed from pole, Stokell even clipped the grass on entry to Doohan Corner, but more drama was to come as Hackett rotated in front of that Audi at the Southern Loop. Stokell received a 15s penalty for his part in the accident.
Talbot had quickly built more than a 1s lead over Rosser, but that was wiped out by a Safety Car for a stopped Lucchitti around Siberia.
Racing resumed at the 10 minute mark and within a few corners Talbot had already reopened his advantage to beyond 1s.
This was not just because of the Ferrari’s speed, but also some wild racing for second.
Schumacher tried to send it down the inside at Miller Corner, but went in way too hot.
The #87 Audi not only went off, but had a 360 degree spin and dropped all the way down to 14th.
Rosser managed to dodge the fellow Audi and secure second ahead of Stokell and Miles.
Another class leader in trouble was Scott Taylor, who went a long way off.
The fight for second carried on throughout the first stint and Stokell was able to snatch second from Rosser.
Miles and Schutte were battling hard all the way to the pits and the Ferrari even gave the Audi a whack from the rear as they entered the lane.
Talbot had built a strong 5s lead over Rosser until they pitted on Lap 18 and handed over to Mostert and Peroni respectively.
Stokell went longer than any other and waited until Lap 20 to pit and serve his penalty.
The wash up of it all saw Mostert emerge with a handy 12s lead over Peroni, while Gracie held third, but not for long.
Evans was fast in the sister Ferrari and jumped to the podium places with 10s now evenly splitting each of the top three.
Gracie also swiftly lost fourth to Leitch, who was on the charge, posting the fastest lap of the race and almost bowled a wide at Miller Corner.
The #181 Audi was also swamped by both Grove and Brown, who were in an intense nose to tail fight for sixth.
Further up the field Leitch was flying in the #7 Audi and caught and passed Evans with ease at the Southern Loop.
The Kiwi was the only driver in the 1m25s window as he set the timesheets alight.
However, it was not enough to challenge Peroni for second with the top two also pushing hard
The battle for third in Am got ugly as Schoots dived down the inside of Samadi at MG, but the pair made heavy side to side contact at corner exit.
Schoots came from a long way back and found the grass before striking the #22. As a result he received a 15s penalty.
Evans looked set for fourth until a right rear went flat and the Kiwi was forced to bring his wounded Ferrari to the lane and pit, falling to 11th.
The #38 Aston Martin of Valentino Astuti had a troubled race and it finally came to an end at Southern Loop.
Leitch paid the price for his record-breaking run, destroying his right rear and losing an important finish.
The tyre went pop at one of the fastest parts of the track, Stoner Corner and the Kiwi did well to save it.
But to make matters worse when he pitted, he suffered a 40s penalty for speeding in the lane.
The field has another one-hour race to somehow reel in the all conquering #1 Ferrari 296 at 12.50 AEST on Sunday.
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