Newcomer Jeremy Gray has won the opening round of the 2008 AASA Production Car Championship, driving his AU Falcon XR8 at Goulburns Wakefield Park circuit.
Gray suffered an engine problem during official practice on Saturday morning, and as a consequence missed the qualifying session (while he headed home to install his spare engine). In his absence, fellow newcomer, Clark Stott set the fastest time to take pole position in his fantastic Mazda 3 MPS. Stott was joined on the front row by Daniel Flanagan in his Hyundai Sonata. Anthony Soole's new Celica took him to third on the grid, with Bryan Fitzpatrick alongside him in his Renault Clio. Neil Byers, John Willmington and Hans Riehs made up the remainder of the qualifiers, with Shane Tanner unable to be present, and Gray still busy installing his spare engine.
On Sunday mornings Race One, Clark Stott led the field away, and was never headed during the race, improving his qualifying laptime to set a 1m10.95 in the race. Close behind was Daniel Flanagan, with Gray third after having made his way through the field from the back of the grid - giving an indication of his raw pace by setting the fastest time of the race in the process (1m10.77). Hans Riehs was next up and first of the Class B cars, having come to grips with his new Mini, and also setting a 1m10 lap. Anthony Soole placed 5th, with Bryan Fitzpatrick, Neil Byers, John Willmington and Shane Tanner rounding out the results.
For the second race, the starting order was decided on laptimes from race one, only reversed, so John Willmington had pole position, and again, Jeremy Gray was starting from the rear. Despite starting close together, Gray was able to make his way through the field where Stott could only make his way up to 5th place - possibly the power of the big V8 giving Gray an advantage on the straights, and allowing him to make some efficient passes. Stott's efforts in his first reverse-grid race were commendable all the same. Daniel Flanagan made his way through to second place, but not without controversy - he made contact with Hans Riehs in the Mini, causing the latter to come perilously close to the wall at the exit of turn 10, and ultimately causing Riehs to retire from the race. Neil Byers put in a very strong performance in the Magna (ex-Nat Willmington) to take third place. Anthony Soole was 4th, Bryan Fitzpatrick 6th, Shane Tanner 7th and John Willmington 8th.
The grid for the final race was again determined by fastest times from the earlier races (only this time not reversed), this put Gray on pole, and he was never headed on his way to victory. Clark Stott held second place for the duration of the race, holding out in the face of strong pressure from Daniel Flanagan (who ultimately finished in third).Hans Riehs finished fourth, with Bryan Fitzpatrick fifth, Anthony Soole sixth, Tanner, Willmington and Byers filling the rest of the positions.
For the round, Jeremy Gray amassed enough points to take the outright victory. Daniel Flanagan took out second, with Clark Stott a very impressive third. Soole, Tanner, Fitzpatrick, Byers, Willmington and Riehs rounded out the results. Division A honours went to Gray, Division B to Anthony Soole, and Division C to Flanagan.
The next round of the 2008 AASA Production Car Championship will be held at Melbournes Calder Park, 26-27 April.
Television broadcast details from this round will be announced shortly.
