Jacobson eases to comfortable Dunlop Series win

Garry Jacobson has taken a dominant second straight Dunlop Series win in Race 1 at Phillip Island.

Jacobson took the lead from the front row and twice drove away from the field after a mid-race Safety Car period.

The Prodrive Racing Australia driver was gifted the lead when pole-sitting teammate Jack Le Brocq stalled and dropped to 15th spot.

Paul Dumbrell provided an initial challenge to third-placed Todd Hazelwood, while Jacobson was quickly dropping a chasing pack headed by James Golding.

The hairpin saw a wild moment on Lap 4 when Shae Davies tipped sixth-placed Macauley Jones into a spin, who had turned in from a wide berth in an attempt to avoid a locked-up Richard Muscat.

Davies was himself dispatched into the outfield when he tangled with Kurt Kostecki on the way out.

Jacobson led by 3.6s and Le Brocq had climbed to seventh when the Safety Car was called for a stranded Marcus Zukanovic on Lap 6, the series returnee having spun off at Southern Loop.

That proved a temporary hindrance from the Challenger Valve-backed driver as he reset the lap record when racing resumed on Lap 8, leading by 2.6s after Lap 10 before cruising for the final six laps.

Golding soon ran alone in second while Dumbrell displaced Hazelwood when the South Australian ran wide at the Hairpin on Lap 12.

However another error for Le Brocq, who locked up and toured the relief road, saw him plummet again to 12th.

The PRA driver experienced more drama on the final lap when he and Kurt Kostecki banged together at Lukey Heights, forcing Bryce Fullwood to stand hard on the brakes and dive to the infield grass to avoid a shunt.

For his troubles he did manage to pass Kostekci by doing so, while Le Brocq ran 10th to the line.

Jacobson extended his series lead with the win as Golding collected a second straight second placing and Dumbrell returned to the podium after a Race 2 DNF at Adelaide.

Hazelwood, Andrew Jones, Muscat, Liam McAdam, Josh Kean, and Taz Douglas filled fourth through ninth.

Two more 16 lap races conclude Round 2 tomorrow from 1055 and 1255 AEST respectively.

Result: Dunlop Series Race 1, Phillip Island