Brown sweeps to fourth TCR Australia win

Will Brown scored his fourth victory of the TCR Australia after coming through a Safety Car interrupted race at The Bend Motorsport Park.

The HMO Customer Racing driver controlled the race from start to finish overcoming two Safety Car restarts in what was an eventful encounter at the 4.95km South Australian circuit.

As Brown extended his series lead, Garth Tander (Melbourne Performance Centre – Audi) came home in second after a late crash from Garry Rogers Motorsport’s Chris Pither handed him the position.

Pither’s team-mate James Moffat inherited the final spot on the podium in the #34 Renault Megane.  

Brown made a strong getaway from second on the grid to lead the field by 2.8s at the end of an action packed opening lap.

Race 1 winner and pole-sitter Garth Tander found himself under attack from John Martin (Wall Racing – Honda) who briefly snatched second spot before doing so permanently at Turn 17.

Pither (Renault Megane) found himself all over the rear of Tander’s Audi before taking third on Lap 2.

The race was halted on the following lap when the Safety Car was deployed after Alexandra Whitley (Alliance Autosport – Volkswagen) stopped on the grass at Turn 17, after incurring damage on the opening lap.

Brown made no mistake on the restart while Pither overtook Tander at Turn 1 for second position.

Green flag running was short-lived as a collision between Jimmy Vernon (Garry Rogers Motorsport – Alfa Romeo) and Alex Rullo (Kelly Racing – Opel Astra) brought out the Safety Car for a second time. 

Vernon ran wide off the road at Turn 8 before sliding the car back onto the track, collecting the innocent Rullo in the process, ending both of their races.

Racing resumed on Lap 9 with Brown leading Pither, Garth Tander, Martin and Jordan Cox (Wall racing – Honda).

However, as the field braked for Turn 1 Pither locked his rears and speared into the concrete wall on the right hand side, throwing away second spot. 

While Brown went ton to take the win from Garth Tander and Moffat, Martin came home in fourth ahead of team-mate Cox.

Russell Ingall drove to sixth position in the Castrol backed Audi, ahead of Nathan Morcom (HMO Customer Racing – Hyundai) and Leanne Tander (Melbourne Performance Centre – Audi).

The top 10 was completed by Tony D’Alberto (Wall Racing – Honda) and championship contender Dylan O’Keeffe (Ash Seward Motorsport – Alfa Romeo).

Only 12 cars reached the finished as Aaron Cameron (Melbourne Performance Centre – Volkswagen) suffered damage to the left rear.

Race 3 is scheduled for 1345 local time.  

Results: TCR Australia Race 2 – The Bend Motorsport Park