The Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships finished with a bang today at Sandown Raceway, with all seven categories turning on some brilliant action.
Ben Barker claimed the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship by a single point by virtue of earning the bonus point for the fastest lap in the third and final race.
Barker’s championship appeared to over after a first corner incident in the second race, where Zhang Shan Qi crashed over the top of Barker’s car, resulting in extensive damage to both machines.
From the race restart, a massive crash involving Graeme Holmes and John Boothman on the back straight saw Holmes spectacularly back flip down the circuit.
Both drivers emerged unhurt, the race was declared a non-event with no points paid, leaving the grid for the finale to be set from the results of the opener.
The three title protagonists, Barker, Mitch Evans and Tom Tweedie went head to head in a remarkable final race, with precious little splitting the trio.
Tim Macrow took both race wins on his Formula 3 comeback, heading Evans, Tweedie and Barker over the finish line in the last race.
Barker took the bonus point for the fastest lap from Evans by an incredible 0.0502sec.
“It was an unreal weekend, it covered all of the extremes, I can’t believe it,” Ben Barker said.
“After the crash in race two I thought it was all over, 100% gone, I thought I was then fighting for second.
“Unfortunately and fortunately there was another crash.
“It really worked in our favour, and we were back in the game, I’m just really glad the drivers were OK.
“The last race was so close, the car felt brilliant.
“Mitch defended well, and Tom was able to get by.
“I dropped back, gave myself a break, and I managed to set the fastest lap, which proved to be the difference in the end.”
Stuart Kostera took a clean sweep of the race wins in the Australian Manufacturers Championship en route to taking out the title in his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X.
The points equation swung in the West Australian’s favour after former series leader Garry Holt (BMW 335i) made contact with Colin Osborne (Mazda 3 MPS) at the first corner of the first race, with his DNF and fourth place finishes for the weekend not enough to hold on to the prize.
Kostera’s teammate Inky Tulloch was second in both races, ahead of Jake Camilleri aboard his Mazda 3 MPS.
“It’s great, I’m very happy with the result this weekend and the year,” Stuart Kostera said.
“We’ve always had a quick car, but everything really clicked at Eastern Creek in the Six Hour.
“We’ve had a really good year, Inky has pushed us all the way, and it was very pleasing to lower the lap record again today.”
Darren Hossack and James Sera finished one-two in all three races for the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, with Sera scoring enough points to secure the title despite missing the opening round.
“The car ran like clockwork all year long, that’s what won us the title,” James Sera said.
“It’s unbelievable; I never thought we were going to win the title especially after missing the opening round.
“The team has put in countless hours, their effort has been phenomenal.
“The end result is worth it.”
Third for the weekend was outgoing champion Des Wall, with Phil Crompton fourth.
Roger Lago wrapped up the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Mission Foods, with series rival Matt Kingsley crashing out heavily during qualifying. 
Local Victorian driver Kane Rose took three wins from as many starts, but the racing was interrupted by several incidents.
The Sunday morning race saw Jeff Bobik and Steve Kepper crash off the start, while the afternoon race was curtailed after Ivan Klasan hit the wall hard while battling with Lago up the back straight. Klasan was unhurt.
Simon Tabinor may have won the battle of the Saloon Car National Series, but Tim Rowse won the war, with the Victorian taking out his maiden national title.
Tabinor won races two and three, with the victory in the finale a true sprint to the chequered flag, with the final margin of victory being 0.09sec.
To highlight his championship win, Rowse took out a new Sandown lap record in the third race.
Andrew Nowland finished third on the round podium behind Rowse.
The Commodore Cup National Series put on its standard display of breathtaking three-wide racing, with the close racing keeping the large crowd on the edge of their seats.
Adam Beechey may have finished second in the round, but he scored enough points to take out his first national crown.
Marcus Zukanovic won the first and third races on his way to the overall round victory, while Ross McGregor won his first ever race, the reverse grid heat two, giving him third for the round.
A highlight of the final race was the lap record being traded between Geoff Emery and Zukanovic, with Emery taking his place in the record books on the very last lap.
A breach of safety car regulations cost Shannons V8 Touring Car Series champion elect Tony Evangelou dearly, allowing Terry Wyhoon through for the overall round victory.
Wyhoon won one race to Evangelou’s two, with Matt Hansen scoring a sensational overall podium to cap off his rookies season in the category.
Chris Smerdon took maximum points in Saturday’s Time Attack, but crashed out of the Sunday morning race.
Smerdon, Evangelou and Wyhoon were split by an incredible 0.02sec in the most competitive single-lap Time Attack session of the season.
All of the action from the Shannons Nationals at Sandown Raceway will be broadcast on SBS Speedweek on Sunday October 31st and December 19th, with further replays on new Foxtel channel, SPEED TV.
Stay tuned to the Shannons Nationals website, www.thenationals.com.au for all of the latest news on the season 2011 calendar and category line up.
