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Ryal Harris kicked off his V8 Ute Racing Series in the best possible way with victory in the Clipsal 500 opener.
The Ford driver wasted little time from his seventh place grid slot as he emerged into the top three in the early stages of the 8 lap contest.
Harris continued his charge by slipping past the lead two of Kris Walton and polesitter Rhys McNally mid-way through the race.
Once in front Harris controlled the race taking the chequered flag from Walton and Erebus Motorsport’s Adam Marjoram.
McNally’s podium hopes were dealt a severe blow when a bent steering arm incurred from contact at Turn 1 saw him drop to 18th position at the finish.
“It was disappointing with the qualifying format but I knew we had the pace to do it I just had to bide my time,” said Harris.
“It’s so hard to pass Kris (Walton) he can be so aggressive and you have to be just as aggressive to pass him so it’s going to be hard keeping the friendship intact this year but I really want that third championship and I’ll do anything to get it.”
Craig Dontas came home in fourth ahead of Queenslander Ryan Hansford and George Miedecke in sixth.
The race will set the grid for Race 2 which will take place at 10:45am on Saturday.
Result: V8 Utes Race 1, Clipsal 500
| 1 | All Purpose Pest Racing | Ryal Harris (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:00.8535 |
| 2 | Rentco Transport Equipment Ren | Kris Walton (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:01.5186 |
| 3 | Auto One / Erebus Motorsport | Adam Marjoram (WA) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:05.7048 |
| 4 | Just Car Insurance / Kitten Ca | Craig Dontas (SA) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:06.4187 |
| 5 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:06.9025 |
| 6 | iSeek | George Miedecke (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:07.3624 |
| 7 | JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:14.1532 |
| 8 | Mango Credit | David Sieders (NSW) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:14.8814 |
| 9 | Burbank Homes | Nathan Pretty (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:15.4071 |
| 10 | OPS Gateway/Ryco 24-7 | Gerard McLeod (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:16.9216 |
| 11 | Peters Motorsport | Mason Barbera (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:17.4327 |
| 12 | Bob Jane T-Marts / Altenzo Tyr | Kim Jane (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:19.5628 |
| 13 | Slideway / Go Karting Brisbane | Cameron Wilson (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:21.8148 |
| 14 | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Grou | Adam Beechey (TAS) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:22.4276 |
| 15 | RED Express/AirRoad | Charlie Kovacs (SA) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:25.1852 |
| 16 | Sieders Racing | Jordan Skinner (SA) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:25.7058 |
| 17 | Jesus Racing Team | Andrew Fisher (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:29.6618 |
| 18 | Cetnaj Electrical Supplies | Peter Burnitt (QLD) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:35.0806 |
| 19 | West Coast Racing | Rhys McNally (WA) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:41.5213 |
| 20 | Marbo Smash | Nandi Kiss | Holden VE | 8 | 13:42.1173 |
| 21 | Adelaide Tools | Troy Dontas (SA) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:45.0484 |
| 22 | Skyreach/Shamick Racing | Leigh Nicolaou (VIC) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:47.2415 |
| 23 | Gulf Western Oil/Aussie Stop L | Richard Mork | Ford FG | 8 | 13:50.5859 |
| 24 | OAKLANDS BUILT | Bruce Oaklands (NSW) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:56.9113 |
| 25 | Australian Conveyor Racing | Noel Edge (SA) | Ford FG | 8 | 13:57.5246 |
| 26 | Tean Cleen Racing | Geoff Fane (NSW) | Holden VE | 8 | 13:59.3116 |
| 27 | Western General Body Works | Danny Buzadzic (VIC) | Ford FG | 7 | 13:03.1443 |
| DNF | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Grou | Andrew Nickolls (NSW) | Holden VE | 5 | 8:52.8114 |
