Heinrich hat-trick, Garwood Touring Car Masters champion
As Joel Heinrich completed a home hat-trick, Adam Garwood celebrated a maiden Touring Car Masters championship title after a dramatic Bend finale.
Heinrich survived a one-lap sprint to become the first driver of the year to record a clean sweep in an open season.
But the undoubted leader of the pack in 2024 has been Garwood, who secured the crown with second place in the final race.
Ever since a breakthrough win at Wanneroo, the #2 VB Commodore has been tough to stop, being the most consistent across an ultra-competitive year with four victories.
This put Garwood in a strong position ahead of the final round, enjoying a formidable 82-point advantage over Jamie Tilley and ensured there was never a late challenge, cementing himself as the best of the rest at The Bend behind the dominant Heinrich.
The Develon Equipment driver is the first to drive a Holden Commodore to a TCM title and first to do it as a Pro Am driver.
Chasing a round win Heinrich and champion Garwood led the field at the rolling start where the field roared down to turn 1.
Heinrich again made good use of the inside line to defend the lead as Garwood slipped in behind, while Fisher held off Hansford for third.
Zukanovic, Buzadzic and Lillie led the minor places as the Tilleys went side by side through the hairpin in their respective Mustang and Valiant machines.
Their battle resumed at the start of lap 3 where Craig Tilley came up alongside in the run down to pit straight, only for the Mustang to have the legs once again.
Scott Cameron soon joined the party, creating a five-car train.
Fisher struggled to keep up with the top two and got a fishtail coming out of the final corner at the end of the opening lap, which left him vulnerable to Hansford.
The Multispares Racing driver went on the attack across both the pit and back straights and it was not until the Turn 6 hairpin where the former snatched third in the all-Torana tussle.
But it was not over as they were door to door once again three laps later and Fisher was able to sweep past on this occasion.
However, a lap later it was over in dramatic fashion.
Fisher and Hansford went side by side into the opening corner and clashed, seeing both of them rotate and drop to the end of the pack.
This promoted Zukanovic to third ahead of the furious pack that were now fighting for fourth.
But soon they were battling for a spot on the podium as Zukanovic locked up and speared off at Turn 1.
Buzadzic was now in third, but by the skin of his teeth as Jamie Tilley made a challenge coming out of Turn 12.
However, two corners later the Mustang dropped a wheel on the dirt, putting him under direct threat to Zukanovic.
Just when things were really getting tasty, a Safety Car was called due to both Tony Karanfilovski and David Hender coming to a stop.
This set the scene for an exciting one-lap dash.
As Heinrich put the foot down, Garwood suffered wheel spin which allowed Buzadzic to roar up alongside down the pit straight.
But Garwood got his elbows out through the tight turns 1-3 complex, which meant Buzadzic found himself on the back foot down the back straight.
Jamie Tiley had already passed Zukanovic and set his sights on Buzadazic, but went too deep at the hairpin, escorting both the Mustang and Torana wide.
This looked to open the door for Zukanovic, but smoke suddenly appeared from the XD Falcon and it gave up the ghost by Turn 13 and dropped to the back of the back.
After all the drama Buzadzic retained third.
As had been the case all weekend, there was no challenging Heinrich, while behind him Garwood took the title and celebrated with some impressive Holden doughnuts.
It was an exciting end to a breakthrough 2024 season for Touring Car Masters.
The 2025 season will begin at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21-23.
Touring Car Masters The Bend Race 3 results
Touring Car Masters The Bend round results
All images: James Smith Photography
READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
