Steven Johnson claimed the opening Touring Car Masters heat at Hidden Valley Raceway.

Johnson led home a star-studded podium featuring John Bowe and Glenn Seton in an entertaining 10-lap race.

The Falcon XY driver led into the first corner despite starting from the second row as Jason Gomersall snagged a gearshift and baulked Bowe.

That move proved critical as Bowe could not overcome the straight-line advantage of his former employer’s son and instead just beat Seton to the line.

Seton had spent much of the race in a battle with Gomersall, who appeared to be suffering gearbox issues before spinning on Lap 8 as he attempted to round up car #30 again.

Jim Richards inherited fourth and Tony Karanfilovski fifth.

Eddie Abelnica finished sixth, having run third early on before being roughed up by Seton and then following Gomersall off the road.

Gomersall meanwhile salvaged ninth in his Torana A9X.

Two more 10-lap races will conclude the program at 1150 and 1600 local time on Sunday.

Aussie Racing Cars

Ben Walsh has taken out each of the first two crash-marred Aussie Racing Cars races in Round 3 at Hidden Valley.

Walsh was a dominant start-to-finish winner as both heats were called early due to significant accidents at Turn 5.

David Sultana’s rollover headlined the damage in Race 2 when he made contact with Harley Haber into the corner, spinning his fellow rookie and then tripping over him as the pair took to the grass.

Sultana escaped injury but has been sidelined for the balance of the weekend after his car sustained heavy damage.

In the earlier race, Madison Dunston and Mark Primmer came to grief as a result of the latter spinning unassisted at Turn 5.

While several cars managed to avoid the stricken debutant, Dunston arrived at the scene with a car on her outside and slid backwards into the Dial Before You Dig entry.

Primmer’s meeting appears over due to chassis damage but Dunston is expected to take the grid on Sunday.

Walsh, on the other hand, had no trouble at all as he won the start in both races and disappeared into the distance while those behind him fought amongst themselves.

In Race 1, James Duckworth and team-mate Kyle Clews were the early protagonists for the minor placings before several others joined the party.

Young gradually rose to second after starting eighth, ahead of Grant Ludbey, Clews, and Brendon Pingel, the latter having been shuffled back as far as seventh.

In Race 2, Duckworth quickly moved into second but gave the place away when he dropped a wheel off entering the main straight on Lap 2.

Young held the position until the Safety Car appeared on Lap 6.

Clews also got the better of the RDA Brakes-backed car, relegating Duckworth to fourth ahead of Pingel.

Paul Morris’ cameo has seen the 2014 Bathurst 1000 involved in several mid-pack stoushes for race results of 12th and 10th respectively.

Two further races on Sunday will conclude the round, from 1015 and 1530 local time.

In Improved Production/Commodore Cup/HQ, Adrian Kroonstuiver held out his Over 2 Litre class rival Barry Smith to win the opening race before Mick Uebergang prevailed in Race 2.

Bryce Fullwood topped Commodore Cup in both heats with overall results of fourth and third.