V8 Utes debutant Aaren Russell secured a round win with victory in the final race of the Castrol Gold Coast 600 weekend.
The Dunlop Series regular completed a lights-to-flag win in a much cleaner race compared to the previous two encounters on the Surfers Paradise street circuit.
Russell was unable to relax throughout the contest with George Miedecke keeping the pressure on the Matt Stone Racing driver.
In the end, he held on to take the win by 0.8s from Miedecke while Nathan Pretty fended off David Sieders for the final place on the podium.
“I’m so rapt, I came here to learn the track to push for an Enduro drive here in the future and I never thought I’d walk away with the Round and Race win,” said Russell.
Saturday winner Gerard McLeod had held third in the early stages of the race but slipped back to fifth at the flag.
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Kim Jane secured sixth while title contender Adam Marjoram was forced to settle for seventh.
After being hit with a 10 place grid penalty, championship leader Ryal Harris produced a fighting drive to finish in 10th position.
Harris holds a 79 point lead over Miedecke, who has slotted into second, with Marjoram now 12 points further back in third.
The V8 Utes head to Sydney Olympic Park for a title decider from December 4-6.
Result: V8 Utes Racing Series Race 3, Surfers Paradise
| 1 | Matt Stone Racing | Aaren Russell | Ford FG | 11 | 15:44.9269 |
| 2 | iSeek Racing / ees | George Miedecke (NSW) | Ford FG | 11 | 15:45.7287 |
| 3 | Burbank Racing | Nathan Pretty (VIC) | Holden VE | 11 | 15:51.7044 |
| 4 | Mango Credit | David Sieders (NSW) | Holden VE | 11 | 15:52.0188 |
| 5 | RYCO 24-7 | Gerard McLeod (VIC) | Holden VE | 11 | 15:54.3802 |
| 6 | Bob Jane T-Marts/Altenzo Perf | Kim Jane (VIC) | Holden VE | 11 | 16:00.0019 |
| 7 | Auto One / Erebus Motorsport | Adam Marjoram (WA) | Holden VE | 11 | 16:02.0940 |
| 8 | Just Car Insurance / Kitten Racing | Craig Dontas (SA) | Holden VE | 11 | 16:02.6634 |
| 9 | JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray (NSW) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:03.5379 |
| 10 | Ticketsandtours.com.au | Ryal Harris (QLD) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:04.4504 |
| 11 | Western General Body Works | Danny Buzadzic (VIC) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:05.7155 |
| 12 | Stratco Racing | Rhys McNally (WA) | Holden VE | 11 | 16:11.1848 |
| 13 | Jesus Racing | Andrew Fisher (NSW) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:14.0552 |
| 14 | Team Kleen Racing / Kleen Group | Adam Beechey (TAS) | Holden VE | 11 | 16:17.5065 |
| 15 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford (QLD) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:26.3706 |
| 16 | Cetnaj Electrical Supplies | Peter Burnitt (QLD) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:26.9769 |
| 17 | Ward Demolition Racing | Peter Ward (NZL) | Holden VE | 11 | 16:29.1981 |
| 18 | General Carrying Racing | Matthew Nolan (QLD) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:46.7855 |
| 19 | OAKLANDS BUILT | Bruce Oaklands (NSW) | Ford FG | 11 | 16:59.8134 |
| 20 | Australian Auto Wreckers | George Karadimas (VIC) | Holden VE | 11 | 17:04.6391 |
| 21 | Slideways / Go Karting Australia | Cam Wilson (QLD) | Ford FG | 10 | 16:46.4408 |
| 22 | Rentco Racing | Kris Walton (QLD) | Ford FG | 9 | 16:16.3379 |
| DNF | Peters Motorsport | Mason Barbera (QLD) | Ford FG | 2 | 3:16.5391 |
| DNF | Shamick Racing | Leigh Nicolaou (VIC) | Holden VE | 1 | 1:51.0743 |
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