Cameron McConville has ended Ryan Simpson’s winning streak by scoring victory on debut in the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series.
The 40-year-old, making a guest appearance in the third-tier V8 Supercars class with Eggleston Motorsport, got the better of pole-sitter Simpson to lead each of the eight laps.
Simpson’s ex-Triple Eight Ford finished 1.3s adrift in second, with Justin Ruggier third in the second of Eggleston’s ex-Walkinshaw Holdens.
“I didn’t expect it and I knew Ryan (Simpson) would be very quick and a big challenge,” said McConville, whose win ended an eight-race streak from Simpson.
“I was conscious of not getting in the way of the guys fighting for the title. The Eggleston Motorsport Commodore hooked up on about lap four or five when the front gripped up and it was all coming back to me.
“I made some bar changes that I remembered making back in the VZ days in V8 Supercars and they worked. It’s a big credit to Ben Eggleston and Rachael Wagg for letting me have a steer.”
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Matthew Palmer, Steve Briffa, John Vergotis and Matt Chada, who failed to finish, completed the thin seven-car field.
“I hope for the categories sake they can get more cars out, because it’s a great series for guys who want to move on to Development Series or V8 Supercars,” added McConville.
“If you can do 33s or 34s in one of these things around here you can drive anything.”
Fourteen-year-old Jake Kostecki was unable to take the start after failing to receive the required CAMS license sign-off following Friday practice.
All eight Shannons Nationals classes enjoyed their opening race of the weekend today at the Island circuit.
Simon Hodge topped the eight-car Formula 3 field in both qualifying and Race 1, extending his championship lead in the process.
The Team BRM driver led home Gilmour Racing’s Ben Gersekowski by almost eight seconds, with Ricky Capo, Roland Legge, Chelsea Angelo, Garnett Patterson and Dennie Rumble completing the finishers.
“I got a good start and I’m starting to gain real confidence in getting the car off the line now,” said Hodge.
“The car just got better and better as the race went on and once I had a gap over the field I put my head down and had a real crack at the lap record.
“I think there was a bit much wind but we’ll put our heads down and find some more lap time tomorrow.
“I’m really pleased with the result and it’s been a great start to the weekend at this great track.”
Hodge’s BRM team-mate Chris Anthony endured a horror debut in the team’s Mygale; disqualified from second in qualifying and fourth in the race due to the car’s rear wing failing scrutineering on both occasions.
Darren Hossack beat home arch rival Tony Ricciardello in the opening race for the Kerrick Sports Sedans, resetting the lap record to 1:27.33s in the process.
Tim Berryman took out the Radical Australia Cup opener after a crash in qualifying from series leader Neale Muston ruled him out for the day.
Other winners were Gavin Ross (Super 6 Touring Cars), Adam Proctor (Sports Racer) and Matt Campbell (GT3 Cup Challenge), while the Superkart encounter was declared a non-race after an early red flag.
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