James Golding mastered tricky damp conditions to win a hectic final Dunlop Series race at Sandown.

The Garry Rogers Motorsport driver made the most of his decision to fit slick tyres for the race which began on a damp but drying track.

Golding quickly surged from sixth on the grid to the lead on lap five with a pass on Kurt Kostecki.

Kostecki had led the opening four laps having leapt to the front at the start by utilising his wet tyres on the slippery track surface.

However, as the race progressed slick tyres became the ideal rubber which allowed Golding to storm to the front.

Once ahead, Golding cruised to the chequered flag despite rain falling towards the end of the 20 lap heat.

The slick shod Jack Le Brocq (Prodrive Racing Australia) managed to leap from 20th to second, while Shae Davies completed the podium.

Le Brocq’s rise to second didn’t happen without controversy as contact with Taz Douglas at Turn 6 saw the latter slam into the barriers on lap five.

Douglas was able to bring the car back to the pits and into retirement. The incident was to be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Davies enjoyed a strong run inside the top-five throughout before coming home in third ahead of Todd Hazelwood.

Hazelwood had run as high as second earlier in the race having passed Davies for the position.

However, the Matt Stone Racing driver’s hard work was undone by a mistake at Turn 4, which dropped him to fourth where he stayed for the remaining laps.

Series leader Garry Jacobson finished fifth having decided to sacrifice his fourth spot in the early laps to pit for slick tyres under an opening lap Safety Car.

The stoppage was caused by contact between Anton de Pasquale and Chelsea Angelo at Turn 2.

Jacobson’s fifth place finish saw him secure the round win from Davies and Richard Muscat.

Teenager Alex Rullo came home in sixth in the Castrol-backed Commodore ahead of Muscat, Adam Marjoram and Macauley Jones.

Early leader Kurt Kostecki salvaged 10th spot after recovering from a mid-race clash with his brother Jake Kostecki, who finished in 11th.

Andrew Jones ended the day in 12th position despite incurring a penalty for using prohibited pit equipment while changing tyres.

Paul Dumbrell was mired down in 19th spot after his day was ruined by a spin following contact with Renee Gracie.

The Eggleston Motorsport ran second on the opening lap before diving into the pits for slicks.

Bryce Fullwood and Matt Chahda failed to make the start following Saturday’s huge multiple car crash in Race 2.

Jacobson leads the Dunlop Series standings by 67 points from team-mate Le Brocq ahead of the penultimate round at Bathurst from October 6-9.

Result: Dunlop Series Race 3

Championship Standings