Tony Ricciardello has rebounded from a tough start to the season to take all three race wins at Sydney Motorsport Park’s third round of the 2012 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series.
Having earned pole position yesterday, the Alfa GTV driver dominated the large field in each of the three races, setting a new lap record in the process.
Ricciardello’s biggest challenge came in the opening race of the day via a fired-up Darren Hossack, who led early before his Audi A4 car broke a gear selector bracket and dropped down the order.
“The car is getting good,” said Ricciardello afterward.
“We keep chasing the balance – the car is really sensitive to tyre choice. If Kerry finishes third in every race from here he’ll win the championship so we’re not looking at that – we’re just going for wins.”
A frustrated Hossack limped home 14th in Race 1, but didn’t let a broken sixth gear stop him from charging to second in the second encounter – a finishing position he repeated in the final.
Kerry Baily (Aston Martin) took second for the round after scoring a second, a third and a fourth from the three races, extending his series lead by a single point over a similarly consistent Des Wall (Chevrolet).
The Radical Australia Cup and Hi-Tec Oils Swift Racing Series were also in action across the weekend as part of the fifth round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils.
Neale Muston scored the Round 4 win in the Radicals despite only finishing fifth in today’s second 50-minute mini-enduro.
The Race 1 victor has won all three rounds he has contested this year, in addition to the last three held at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Tony Palmer won today’s race ahead from Glyn Edis and Simon Haggarty, Simon’s father Tony winning the Masters division.
Reece Murphy and Allan Jarvis were the clear benchmarks in the typically slim field. Murphy edged out the defending series winner for the round win despite the latter winning the second race of the day. Damien Ward beat Adam Brand for the final spot on the round podium.
The Shannons Nationals continue at Queensland Raceway on August 13-15, for an event that will be headlined a 200km Saturday night race for the Australian Manufacturers’ Championship.
