Hazelwood aces Race Tasmania
Todd Hazelwood has enjoyed a perfect start to his Trans Am title defence by sweeping Race Tasmania.
Hazelwood was perfect in the #1 TFH Mustang, winning all four races at Symmons Plains, while many others found trouble, especially in Race 3.
However, the 2024 champion was never headed all weekend and was thrilled to make such a significant statement at the first time of asking.
“That’s the perfect weekend, four wins, pole position, the championship lead, I don’t think I’ve done that in a while,” said Hazelwood.
“A massive thanks to my whole TFH Racing crew; we had a pretty rough preparation coming here – we were a little bit worried coming here, to be honest.
“Every session we are tuning this car, whether it is a little bit of ride height, a little bit of spring… that last race we weren’t quite happy with the car, we made a couple of changes, and when you’ve been leading all weekend, the last thing you want to do is make changes.
“You’ve got to always keep moving forward, because these guys behind me are pushing hard as well.”
After Hazelwood won Saturday’s opener, pouncing on James Moffat’s misfortune, he picked up for where he left off.
With light rain playing a role, the #1 led the field as Tom Davies shot to second as Nathan Herne slumped from second to sixth.
Before a spinning Josh Webster brought out a Lap 2 Safety Car, James Golding was able to work his way to second.
When racing resumed Josh Thomas triggered more chaos at Turn 6, sending Josh Haynes among others off as Robbie Farr also spun.
More was to come with Robbie Farr and the recovering Moffat clashed at the left hander, sending the GRM driver off, but this did not stop him from going from 26th to 11th.
Up front Nash Morris was able to race his way to third and join Hazelwood and Golding on the rostrum.
Hazelwood completed his hat-trick in a race significantly impacted by the latest front stretch pile up.
With cars and dust everywhere the reds were waved on the opening lap after a huge 14-car smash up that jammed the track and evoked memories of the infamous 2017 Supercars crash.
The clash was triggered by overlap between Morris and Golding coming out of the third turn, which saw the GRM driver assisted into the inside fence.
As the field tried to navigate their way past, Mark Bailey spun in front of the pack, leaving the rest with nowhere to go aside from crashing into a cloud of dirt and carnage.
Once the track was cleaned up, a 10 minute sprint decided the race with only Coulter, Bailey and Laws taken out from the crash.
Hazelwood took control ahead of Ben Grice, but more drama was to come with Elliott Barbour spinning at the hairpin and Tracey stopping on track.
This brought out the Safety Car and set-up a two-lap dash to the flag where Hazelwood hug on ahead of Grice and the impressive Davies, while Moffat charged from 10th to fourth.
Another significant first lap incident under the bridge interrupted the finale.
This time GRM teammates Moffat and Evennett clashed with the latter hitting the concrete hard.
When racing resumed Herne fell from the front with engine issues as many struggled to keep it straight.
Farr, Jack Smith, Adam Garwood, Des Collier, Domain Ramsey and Josh Webster all spun before the latter finally brought out the Safety Car.
This created a one-lap dash where Hazelwood was again unchallenged as he completed his perfect weekend ahead of Grice.
Earlier Nash Morris passed Tom Davies for third as the latter slumped to eighth by race end with Moffat and Jordan Cox squeezing into the top five.
As Hazelwood got a perfect score, Grice won a tight battle for second best in the round with nine points the difference.
After a dramatic weekend at Symmons Plains, Trans Am takes on Mount Panorama on April 18-20.
Image: DMAC Photography
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