Matt Campbell has made it two-from-two with a dominant performance in the Carrera Cup at Mount Panorama.
Campbell got the jump off the start to head David Wall into Turn #1. Steve Richards slipped up the inside on the exit of the first turn and was able to move ahead of Wall on the run up Mountain Straight.
Richards was able to press Campbell over the opening laps, before slipping back into the clutches of Wall and also Alex Davison.
However, that battle and indeed the race was brought to a premature end when the Safety Car was called after Tag Heuer Carrera Challenge leader Shane Smollen collided with Daniel Stutterd at Forrest’s Elbow. Both cars were left stranded on the circuit on Lap #6 of #9.
The rest of race was run behind the Safety Car through to the finish
Smollen’s demise in the semi-professional category seemed to be a gift for James Bergmuller. However, he had to slow to avoid the Smollen/Stuttered collision and this gave Tony Bates a great run onto Conrod Straight. Bates, who yesterday hit the fence, got through before officials called the Safety Car
Today’s race also marked a milestone for series veteran Marc Cini who made his 250th race start in the series. The popular member of the Carrera Cup fraternity finished 16th.
The final race of the Carrera Cup will be the curtain raiser to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at 9.30am Sunday morning.
VIDEO: Campbell, Bates and Cini speak after the race
RESULTS: Race 2 – Carrera Cup : Mount Panorama
Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Class |
1 | 7 | Matt Campbell | Nuveau Constructions / Phase 8 | P |
2 | 12 | Steven Richards | Laser Plumbing and Electrical | P |
3 | 38 | David Wall | Wilson Security | P |
4 | 25 | Alex Davison | Wilson Parking | P |
5 | 777 | Ash Walsh | Bob Jane T-Marts / Infants Friend | P |
6 | 77 | Nick McBride | Bob Jane T-Marts | P |
7 | 21 | Garth Walden | CIP/GWR | P |
8 | 26 | Michael Almond | Copyworld | P |
9 | 8 | Dean Fiore | Saint/Porsche Centre Melbourne | P |
10 | 54 | James Abela | Horsley Park Gunshop | P |
11 | 88 | Dylan O’Keeffe | Allstar Equipment / Dexion Supplies | P |
12 | 45 | Duvashen Padayachee | Darrell Lea STIX | P |
13 | 24 | Tony Bates | Moveitnet / C Tech Laser | C |
14 | 13 | James Bergmuller | pricepressure.com.au | C |
15 | 222 | Scott Taylor | Scott Taylor Motorsport | C |
16 | 9 | Marc Cini | Hallmarc | C |
17 | 39 | Adrian Mastronardo | Veritas Porperty Group | C |
18 | 18 | Max Twigg | DNA Racing/Beyond Blue | G |
DNF | 32 | Daniel Stutterd | DJS Racing | G |
DNF | 56 | Shane Smollen | McGrath Estate Agents | C |
DNF | 4 | Stephen Grove | Grove Hire | C |