John Bowe has defeated Peter Hackett in a spirited late race duel to win the second 60 minute encounter for the Australian GT Championship at Sydney Motorsport Park.

A measured opening stint from sixth on the grid by car-owner Peter Edwards allowed Bowe to emerge in third behind Klark Quinn and race leader Hackett once the mid-race pitstop cycle shook out.

Taking Quinn with a wily manoeuvre at Turn 5, Bowe was then able to move onto the tail of Hackett when the Safety Car was called with 13 minutes remaining following a crash from Saturday winner Roger Lago.

Just two laps would be completed after the resumption of racing, but six corners proved enough for Bowe to take the lead from Hackett – the two-cars making minor side-to-side contact as the Mercedes turned in on the fully-committed Ferrari.

With no damage done, Hackett came home second to secure the round honours and marginally extend his championship lead.

Quinn (Porsche) eventually took third from father Tony Quinn (Mosler), Ben Eggleston (Aston Martin), Neil Muston (Porsche), Martin Wagg (Aston Martin), Rod Salmon (Audi), Peter Conroy (Audi) and Jan Jinadasa (Porsche).

Lago had been running fifth at the time of his accident after co-driver David Russell saw his sizeable early race gap over the field evaporate thanks to a full course yellow being required for Ash Samadi’s stranded Mosler.

It was a bad day also for fellow non-finishers Greg Crick (whose Chrysler struck fuel issues during its pitstop) and John Briggs (who retired his Mosler on the second lap with broken suspension).

The Kevin Weeks/Steve Owen Ford failed to make the start after its software-related gear selection issues yesterday.

Hackett now leads the championship standings by six points ahead of Klark Quinn, with the Bowe/Edwards combination just nine further adrift in third.

Three of the seven rounds still remain, with the category now returning to Phillip Island with the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils on September 21-23.