John Modystach has won race one of the Porsche Staff Solutions International GT3 Cup Challenge Australia at the second round of the Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils, rounding out a perfect autumn day at South Australia’s Mallala Raceway.
Modystach made the perfect start and led the field into turn one as drama unfolded at the back of the field, two cars coming together at turn one and bringing out the Safety Car.
The restart was clean and saw Modystach start to make his mark on the 40 lap race by building an early lead.
As the sun began to set, the track came alive and positions changed throughout the field. Almond battled with Kane Rose as the fight for the lead between Modystach and Jeff Bobik heated up, through Modystach was eventually able to hold off the speedy Victorian and take his maiden Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge victory.
It was also the first race of the Jim Richards Endurance trophy series, Modystach taking an early lead in the Porsche ‘series within a series’ held across three of the scheduled six rounds.
John Goodacre held on for the final podium position of the day. Kane Rose and Terry Knight rounded out the top five of the race the first of the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy standings.
Mark Shepherd took his first win in the Kumho Australian V8 Touring Car Series after a dramatic opening race this afternoon.
The CEG Rentals Ford driver took pole position in a fiercely contested 20-minute qualifying session but that turned to naught when confusion reigned at the beginning of the 14-lap race when the starting lights failed.
The field was sent on another warm-up lap – after some through it was the race start proper - before officials could ready the National flag for a subsequent re-start.
Once underway, local driver and former Saloon Car champion Shaun Jaimeson led the race comfortably and looked set for a maiden win before power steering dramas cruelly struck two laps from home and forced him to pit lane - allowing Shepherd to cruise and collect his maiden Kumho series win.
Jim Pollicina was a late charger through the field and finished second – and assumed the series lead in the process – whilst Chris Smerdon also fought his way through the pack to third.
The Kumho series will stage two further races tomorrow as part of their second of six rounds this year.
Matthew Lovell was victorious in the first Dial Before You Dig Australian Saloon Cars race. The Ford driving pole sitter held off a persistent Simon Tabinor to convert his earlier pole position into a race win.
Behind the lead pair, South Australian locals of Sam Milton and Josh Keane did their state proud to finish in third and fourth respectively.
Series leader Allan Jarvis has won a hard fought first race of the Hi-Tec Oils Australian Swift Racing Series.
Starting from third, the younger of the two Jarvis' manoeuvred his way into the lead, passing Adam Brand halfway through the 12 lap race. Side by side racing and a final lap move saw Rob Jarvis narrowly take second place behind his son.
Kerry Bailey stormed his brand new Aston Martin to pole in the first qualifying session for the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, ahead of Des Wall and Tony Ricciardello. Wall took control in the red flag affected second qualifying session, beating Ricciardello and Dameon Jameson to the top of the times.
The series first 12 lap race will start proceedings at Mallala Motorsport Park tomorrow at 9am whilst the series’ feature race – the Clem Smith Cup – begins at midday.
Adam Beechey made his mark on the Southern Star Windows V8 Commodore Cup today, topping both practice sessions and nabbing pole in a dominant performance.
Michael Tancredi and Ross McGregor held on to start second and third on the grid respectively for the first of three 14 lap races tomorrow.
Catch all of the action live tomorrow on www.itvlive.com.au
