Kiwi driver Chris Pither has claimed a surprise victory in the opening Dunlop Series race at the Castrol Townsville 500.
Pither was lying in third position for the bulk of the race before being elevated to victory in a dramatic turn of events in the closing seconds of the shortened 28-lap race.
Series leader Ash Walsh (Infants Friend Ford) led after storming to the lead from second on the grid and held the position until the final corner of the last lap.
Hot in pursuit Cameron Waters (FPR Ford) went for a dive on the side into the final left-hand corner before locking his brakes and clipping the left rear of Walsh, sending him into a spin.
Stewards immediately issued a 30s penalty to Waters, dropping him to 21st and promoting Pither to the win.
In the reshuffled finish Paul Dumbrell was second with Andre Heimgartner third.
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Walsh was bitterly disappointed after seeing certain victory ripped from his grasp.
“He got a 30s penalty but it doesn’t give my points back,” said Walsh, who now holds a narrow series lead over Dumbrell.
“We’ll just have to regroup and get out there tomorrow and do the job.”
The race was shortened shortened by one lap after Andrew Jones pulled off onto the grass beside his grid box with a problem on the original grid.
The former main series driver was able to fire the car back up before retiring as the field formed up for a second time.
On lap 9 Steve Johnson pinched a tyre and speared off into the run off area before rejoining in ninth, losing three spots in the incident.
Walsh continued to lead as the Safety Car was deployed on lap 14 safety when Paul McKinnon (RSport Holden) spun before he was clipped by Aaron Tebb, removing the stricken rookie’s front splitter.
Morgan Haber attempted an inside pass on Paul Morris, Marcus Zukanovic and Ant Pedersen into Turn 11, causing a traffic jam and bringing out the the second Safety Car.
In the ensuing scrimmage, Morris was forced out of the race along with Haber.
The Dunlop Series will return to the track for qualifying at 9.25am tomorrow.
See below for full results
|
1 |
Icebreak Racing |
Chris Pither |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:32.8930 |
1:15.7455 |
|
2 |
Eggleston Motorsport |
Paul Dumbrell |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:34.8196 |
1:15.5728 |
|
3 |
Finance Ezi/MW Motorsport |
Andre Heimgartner |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:35.5232 |
1:15.7447 |
|
4 |
Go Karts Go/North Side Fire |
Aaren Russell |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:37.5548 |
1:15.7372 |
|
5 |
Wilson Security Racing |
Steven Johnson |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:38.5262 |
1:16.0541 |
|
6 |
R&T Pumps/MW Motorsport |
Dean Fiore |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:40.3660 |
1:15.6934 |
|
7 |
R&J Batteries |
Geoff Emery |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:40.7071 |
1:16.6889 |
|
8 |
Thomas Steel Fabrication |
Todd Hazelwood |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:40.7095 |
1:16.1034 |
|
9 |
Eggleston Motorsport |
Ant Pedersen |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:41.4238 |
1:15.8620 |
|
10 |
Think Holden |
Macauley Jones |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:43.3249 |
1:16.7620 |
|
11 |
Forpark/Aust Custom Moulders |
Matt Hansen |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:46.5545 |
1:17.3758 |
|
12 |
Action Racing |
Marcus Zukanovic |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:47.5820 |
1:16.2230 |
|
13 |
Pacific Hoists/Halda Race Pilo |
Fredrik Lestrup |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:48.4786 |
1:17.1925 |
|
14 |
Formula Tech/Interquip Racing |
Brett Stewart |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:49.0932 |
1:17.5258 |
|
15 |
Eggleston Motorsport |
Garry Jacobson |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:51.4155 |
1:15.6057 |
|
16 |
Mocomm Communication |
Jim Pollicina |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:51.8322 |
1:17.3436 |
|
17 |
Gulf Western Oil |
Michael Hector |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:52.3963 |
1:17.7399 |
|
18 |
Infants Friend |
Ashley Walsh |
Ford Falcon FG |
36:57.5357 |
1:15.4427 |
|
19 |
Warrin Mining/Volvo Construction |
Adam Wallis |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:58.6500 |
1:18.1449 |
|
20 |
Wynn’s/Vili’s |
Josh Kean |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
37:00.8707 |
1:17.0940 |
|
21 |
TEAM ENZED FPR |
Cameron Waters |
Ford Falcon FG |
37:02.6813 |
1:15.4420* |
|
22 |
Image Racing |
Jack Le Brocq |
Ford Falcon FG |
37:05.7331 |
1:16.3245 |
|
23 |
McGill Motorsport |
Aaron McGill |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:57.9990 |
1:17.9444 |
|
24 |
Voight Contracting |
Aaron Tebb |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
36:52.9831 |
1:17.5342 |
|
DNF |
Worldwide Gaming |
Tim Macrow |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
32:53.4290 |
1:17.9195 |
|
DNF |
United Racing |
Paul Morris |
Ford Falcon FG |
24:43.6083 |
1:16.4707 |
|
DNF |
Haber Xcavations/MW Motorsport |
Morgan Haber |
Ford Falcon FG |
24:45.0785 |
1:15.8505 |
|
DNF |
Street Fighter |
Dan Day |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
24:49.8551 |
1:17.2900 |
|
DNF |
Rev Trans WA/Evolution Custom |
Paul McKinnon |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
14:41.7734 |
1:17.6296 |
|
DNF |
A.L.B. Distributors |
Andrew Jones |
Holden Commodore VE2 |
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