Reigning Australian V8 Utes champion Ryal Harris used his local knowledge to his advantage as he claimed victory in a chaotic race on the Gold Coast streets which ended behind the Safety Car.
The Gold Coast resident was forced to work hard for his win after having to come through a thrilling battle with polesiter Jesse Dixon.
Harris surged into the lead after four laps but he was unable to race to the flag as a nasty crash involving Philip Woodbury, Benn Wilson and Cam Wilson saw the race end under the Safety Car.
Poleman Dixon took the lead on the run down to the first corner with Harris close behind. Title hopeful Dave Sieders slotted into third ahead of Ryan Hansford and championship leader Kris Walton.
The battle at the front proved to be intense with Dixon and Harris enjoying a hard fought scrap for the lead which was only settled in the latter’s favour after the fourth lap.
However, the race was brought to a dramatic conclusion on lap six when Benn Wilson clouted the wall at Turn 2. The impact forced the Ute back into the middle of the race track and into the path of Woodbury, who had nowhere to go.
The crash caused heavy damage to both Utes with Benn Wilson and Woodbury taken to the medical centre. The pair were subsequently cleared of any injury.
Cam Wilson also made contact with the wall as he tried to avoid the incident and has been ruled out of the remainder of the weekend along with Woodbury.
“It was a fairly decent hit, Benn went into turn one and the steering broke on him and he bounced into the wall and bounced straight back at me, so the car was up on two wheels as I turned into the corner, then landed back on the wheels and straight into him,” said Woodbury.
“I’m feeling a bit sore and sorry at the moment, it was a short Gold Coast weekend.”
In the end, Harris took the victory from Dixon with Sieders claiming the final podium position in third, while title rival Walton was fifth behind Hansford.
The Australian V8 Ute Racing Series continues on Sunday with two 12 lap races.
VIDEO: Philip Woodbury on-board footage of race ending crash
V8 Utes Race 1 Result, Gold Coast
| 1 | All Purpose Pest Racing | Ryal Harris (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:32.5982 |
| 2 | Hayman Reese Racing | Jesse Dixon (VIC) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:34.1600 |
| 3 | Sieders Racing Team | David Sieders (NSW) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:35.1803 |
| 4 | Multispares | Ryan Hansford (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:36.4010 |
| 5 | Rentco Transport Equipment Ren | Kris Walton (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:37.5992 |
| 6 | iSeek Racing/Wake Up | George Miedecke (NSW) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:39.0570 |
| 7 | Auto One | Adam Marjoram (WA) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:39.5562 |
| 8 | STRATCO Racing | Rhys McNally (WA) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:40.8538 |
| 9 | GoPro Racing | Nathan Pretty (VIC) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:41.6714 |
| 10 | Jesus Racing Team | Andrew Fisher (NSW) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:42.9546 |
| 11 | JMG Racing/IXL | Jeremy Gray (NSW) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:44.8847 |
| 12 | Onsite Racing | Rohan Barry (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:44.9847 |
| 13 | Thirsty Camel Bottleshops | Craig Dontas (SA) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:47.3859 |
| 14 | Norris Motor Group/Isuzu | Wayne Wakefield (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:54.2664 |
| 15 | Cetnaj Electrical Supplies | Peter Burnitt (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 11:55.5136 |
| 16 | Skyreach | Leigh Nicolaou (VIC) | Holden VE | 7 | 11:58.4365 |
| 17 | Western General Body Works | Danny Buzadzic (VIC) | Ford FG | 7 | 12:00.4791 |
| 18 | Wil-tow Assist | Stephen Wilson (QLD) | Holden VE | 7 | 12:01.4409 |
| 19 | Just Car Insurance | Elliot Barbour (VIC) | Holden VE | 7 | 12:01.9755 |
| 20 | Oaklands Construction Group | Bruce Oaklands (NSW) | Ford FG | 7 | 12:02.7957 |
| 21 | Slideway/Go Karting Brisbane | Cam Wilson (QLD) | Ford FG | 7 | 12:03.6452 |
| 22 | Australian Conveyor Racing | Noel Edge (SA) | Ford FG | 7 | 12:04.7448 |
| 23 | Big Rig Tyres/Track Buddy/Perm | Colin Bradley (QLD) | Holden VE | 7 | 12:05.8763 |
| 24 | Team Kleen Racing/Kleen Group | Henry Nickolls (NSW) | Holden VE | 7 | 12:07.5653 |
| 25 | Battery World | John Wood (VIC) | Ford FG | 6 | 12:11.5527 |
| DNF | Peters Motorsport | Benn Wilson (QLD) | Holden VE | 5 | 7:33.2447 |
| DNF | Wallerawang Engineering | Philip Woodbury (NSW) | Ford FG | 5 | 7:34.7925 |
| DNF | Macmahon Mining | Gerard McLeod (VIC) | Holden VE | ||
| DNF | SECUREcorp | Terry Nightingale (NSW) | Ford FG | ||
| EXC | Bob Jane T-Marts/Altenzo Tyres | Kim Jane (VIC) | Holden VE |
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