Paul Dumbrell has won the opening round of the Dunlop Series on the streets of Adelaide after coming out on top in a titanic Race 2 tussle with Cameron Waters.
Squaring off on the front-row, Dumbrell beat pole-sitter Waters to the first corner, before giving up the lead five laps in with a lock-up at Turn 14.
Dumbrell then retook the top spot for good three laps later, brushing the wall at Turn 8 as he built enough momentum to dive to the inside at the following hairpin.
Waters initially kept up the pressure before a series of left-front lock-ups saw the Ford driver fall away from the pace.
Both front-runners had to manage their use of the Senna Chicane kerbing during the race after quickly clocking up their three warnings for triggering the Turn 2 sensor.
A heavy crash for James Golding in the chicane brought out the Safety Car with five laps remaining, with the subsequent lengthy clean-up ensuring the race finished under yellows.
Dumbrell, who finished second to Waters in Friday’s opening heat, was awarded the round win courtesy of taking the higher place in the second race.
Aaren Russell and Andrew Jones took third and fourth respectively, having both made their way around eventual fifth place finisher Ant Pedersen.
Garry Jacobson, Jack Le Brocq, Todd Hazelwood, Taz Douglas and Shae Davies completed the top 10, with Douglas having charged through from 18th on the grid.
Third placed starter Chris Pither struggled for speed on his way to 12th, trailing home the second Brad Jones Racing Holden of Macauley Jones.
Bryce Fullwood joined Golding on the retirements list after mid-race contact with the Turn 8 wall damaged the front-end of the 16-year-old’s Holden.
Dan Day was also in the wars to end up last of the finishers with two spins; the first of which came courtesy of a tap from Paul Morris on the opening lap.
Renee Gracie also endured a spin on her way to 20th, finishing two places behind fellow debutant Chelsea Angelo.
The Dunlop Series continues at Barbagallo on May 1-3.
Result: Dunlop Series Race 2, Clipsal 500 Adelaide
1 | Eggleston Motorsport | Paul Dumbrell | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:32.33 | 01:22.81 |
2 | TEAM ENZED PRA | Cameron Waters | Ford Falcon FG | 29:32.60 | 01:23.03 |
3 | Plus Fitness / Go Karts Go | Aaren Russell | Ford Falcon FG | 29:32.96 | 01:23.90 |
4 | Brad Jones Racing | Andrew Jones | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:33.38 | 01:23.50 |
5 | Eggleston Motorsport | Ant Pedersen | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:33.53 | 01:23.72 |
6 | Eggleston Motorsport | Garry Jacobson | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:33.91 | 01:23.40 |
7 | MW Motorsport | Jack Le Brocq | Ford Falcon FG | 29:34.26 | 01:23.76 |
8 | Matt Stone Racing | Todd Hazelwood | Ford Falcon FG | 29:34.60 | 01:24.03 |
9 | THR Developments | Taz Douglas | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:35.53 | 01:23.89 |
10 | Davbridge Constructions | Shae Davies | Ford Falcon FG | 29:35.97 | 01:23.98 |
11 | Brad Jones Racing | Macauley Jones | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:36.54 | 01:24.67 |
12 | Ice Break Racing | Chris Pither | Ford Falcon FG | 29:37.35 | 01:23.55 |
13 | Hayman Reese | Jesse Dixon | Ford Falcon FG | 29:37.84 | 01:24.53 |
14 | United Racing | Paul Morris | Ford Falcon FG | 29:39.48 | 01:23.93 |
15 | Warrin Mining Volvo CE | Adam Wallis | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:39.96 | 01:25.49 |
16 | Wynns Racing | Josh Kean | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:40.71 | 01:24.15 |
17 | Challenger | Matthew Chadha | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:41.43 | 01:25.61 |
18 | Wilson Security/THR | Chelsea Angelo | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:42.08 | 01:25.99 |
19 | Matt Hansen Racing | Matt Hansen | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:42.41 | 01:26.08 |
20 | Fujitsu Racing | Renee Gracie | Ford Falcon FG | 29:44.88 | 01:25.10 |
21 | Battery World Racing | Aaron McGill | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:45.21 | 01:25.77 |
22 | Jamie Sharp Racing | Jamie Sharp | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:47.44 | 01:26.53 |
23 | Super Black Racing | Simon Evans | Ford Falcon FG | 29:47.78 | 01:24.47 |
24 | Arcoplate / Storage King | Kurt Kostecki | Holden Commodore VE2 | 29:47.94 | 01:25.84 |
25 | Street Fighter Performance Up | Dan Day | Ford Falcon FG | 29:45.71 | 01:24.57 |
DNF | Gippsland Body Builders GRM | James Golding | Holden Commodore VE2 | 20:03.93 | 01:24.20 |
DNF | Bryce Fullwood Racing | Bryce Fullwood | Holden Commodore VE | 05:56.84 | 01:24.87 |
Dunlop Series standings after Round 1
1 | Paul Dumbrell | 288 |
2 | Cameron Waters | 288 |
3 | Aaren Russell | 231 |
4 | Ant Pedersen | 231 |
5 | Garry Jacobson | 213 |
6 | Andrew Jones | 210 |
7 | Chris Pither | 198 |
8 | Jack Le Brocq | 192 |
9 | Todd Hazelwood | 174 |
10 | Shae Davies | 156 |
11 | Macauley Jones | 138 |
12 | Jesse Dixon | 138 |
13 | Taz Douglas | 135 |
14 | Adam Wallis | 117 |
15 | Matthew Chadha | 117 |
16 | Aaron McGill | 102 |
17 | Paul Morris | 99 |
18 | Dan Day | 99 |
19 | Chelsea Angelo | 90 |
20 | Simon Evans | 90 |
21 | Renee Gracie | 87 |
22 | Jamie Sharp | 72 |
23 | Matt Hansen | 48 |
24 | James Golding | 48 |
25 | Bryce Fullwood | 45 |
26 | Kurt Kostecki | 38 |
27 | Josh Kean | 32 |
28 | Brett Hobson | 0 |