Quinn wins Aus GT title after Morcom exclusion

Klark Quinn has won the Australian GT Championship title with a third place finish in the Highlands Park title decider after rival Nathan Morcom was stripped of his Race 1 victory.

Quinn produced a measured display to claim the final podium spot behind winners Nathan Antunes/Elliot Barbour (Tekno Autosports McLaren 650S) and Craig Baird/Michael Almond in the Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes AMG GT3.

The McLaren driver’s title hopes had appeared in tatters earlier today after he was punted from the lead of Race 1 on the final lap by Tekno’s Morcom, who went on to win the contest.

However, just minutes before the start of Race 2, stewards announced Morcom’s exclusion from the first heat results, handing Quinn a 12 point championship lead ahead of the decider.

Morcom fought valiantly from the back of the grid to the lead in the 60 minute encounter before his mandatory pitstop, but in the end fell to seventh at the flag.

This handed Quinn his third Australian GT title alongside triumphs in 2012 and 2013.

The eventual race winners enjoyed a strong opening stint from Barbour before he handed over to Antunes.

Quinn found himself locked in a battle with Morcom for much of the first half of the race before emerging in the lead once the pitstops had shaken out.

Antunes managed to pass Quinn for the lead after a late Safety Car, caused by the stricken Steven Richards/Max Twigg (BMW) and John Martin/Liam Talbot (Porsche) at the final corner with five minutes remaining.

Baird charged in the closing stages to claim second after Almond had sprinted to a comfortable lead from pole position, courtesy of being awarded victory in Race 1.

Meanwhile, the Greg Murphy/Tony Quinn Aston Martin came home in fourth position.

A storming second stint from outgoing Australian GT champion Christopher Mies saw the German power the #2 Jemec Pem Audi to fifth, ahead of the sister Garth Tander/Steve McLaughlan Audi R8.

Morcom was left to settle for seventh despite an impressive drive through the field.

The Safety Car appeared to offer a glimmer of hope but in the end he couldn’t hold off Murphy, Mies and Tander in the final laps.

The #73 Lamborghini of Michael Hovey and Jaxon Evans finished eighth in front of Shae Davies and Mark Griffith in the Erebus Mercedes AMG SLS GT3.

Glen Wood and Justin McMillan completed the top 10 in the #48 Lamborghini.

Roger Lago (#23 Lago Racing Lamborghini), who was in title contention, ran inside the top six for much of the race before falling to 14th position.

The Superbarn Supermarkets Audi of Marcus Marshall and James Koundouris retired along with the Richards/Twigg BMW and the Talbot/Martin Porsche after being caught up in an incident at the final corner.

Result: Australian GT Championship Race 2