Garwood triumphant in TCM return

Reigning champion Adam Garwood has marked his Touring Car Masters return perfectly by winning a wild Trophy Race at Symmons Plains.

Driving the recently redone Maverick Performance Ford Capri, Garwood soared nine positions to take a memorable win on home soil.

He overcame the driver who now drives his championship winning VB Commodore Jude Bargwanna.

The top two were in a league of their own after the rest were caught up in a series of battles in a bruising 15-lap affair.

Scott Cameron and Jeremy Hassal were on the front row in a Camaro and Torana respectively.

But a locked up Tony Karanfilovski speared into the back of Cameron, who was sent spinning.

The rest of the field did well to avoid Cameron with Karanfilovski and Danny Buzadazic going into the gravel.

The big winner was David Hender, who cruised into a lead while Bargwanna and Garwood soared six and seven positions respectively in just three corners to get into the top three.

With the Duggan Family Hotels Camaro of Cameron taking some time to leave Turn 2, a short Safety Car period took place.

Racing resumed with 11 minutes on the clock and Bargwanna wasted no time in stealing the lead from Hender at the hairpin.

Garwood waited another lap to make the same move for second place.

This made it a nine-minute duel for the lead with Garwood hunting down Bargawanna.

There was more drama at the hairpin where Hassell locked the rears and collided with Fisher, sending both Toranas into a spin.

Garwood was racey in the Capri and got a great run down the back straight and launched it down the inside at Turn 6.

Bargwanna and little in response as the reigning champion bolted 5s clear.

Meanwhile, Hansford had worked his way up to third, but could not retain it for much longer.

He bowled a wide at the hairpin and even grazed the wall which saw him lose two spots.

Hender and Heinrich were the two cars that picked off the Multispares Torana and they were soon side by side at the end of the back straight.

However, there was more drama with Heinrich locking up and escorting both cars wide.

Heinrich then lost it in the grass and spun across the track, which resulted in a scary close call with Hansford.

All of this ensured Buzadzic emerged in third ahead of Hansford and Johnson as Hender fell to sixth with a 15s penalty.

Some cars will head to the crash repairs to be ready for the opening race at 11.15 AEST Saturday morning.

Image: DMAC Photography

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