Jesus Racing's Andrew Fisher drove to victory today (2 March 2012) to claim Race 1 of the 2012 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
This is Fisher's first win since the Ten Years of Legends Race in 2010, giving the new Coyote engined Ford FG its first win."What a great result for the team! So much hard work has gone into building the FG. The boys have put a lot of hours into it and to win here on debut for the Jesus Racing Team is just a great result and the lap record was just an added bonus," he said.
Fisher started from position seven on the grid and pushed hard from the start moving the Gloria Jean's backed Ford FG into fourth position by lap 2, then set a new lap record (1:36.76) before moving into third after lap 3.
The New South Welshman crept into second after teammate David Sieders had electrical issues which ended his race, and moved Ryal Harris into second.
Harris led until the second last lap in the race when Fisher passed him down the back straight, and held it to the end. Harris almost lost his second place on the final lap when he had gearbox issues."Fisher went wide over the curb to get a run, my third gear was playing up on that lap and on the final lap it just went on me," Harris said.West Aussie Rhys McNally bought his Stratco Racing backed Holden home in third after a long tussle with Rentco Racing's Kris Walton, Cameron McConville claimed fifth. Truckline Racing's Ryan Hansford drove well to take sixth ahead of Clipsal veteran Gary Baxter in seventh. Kim Jane claimed eighth before Monster Energy's Nathan Pretty in ninth. Auto One Wildcard driver and former V8 Ute Champion Warren Luff rounded out the top ten.
Jack Elsegood had an electrical issue off the start line, dropping the new FG into limp mode, which resulted in Ice Break Racing's Chris Pither slamming into the rear of the Cooper's Ford, forcing both out at Turn 1.
Charlie Kovacs Jnr also retired early after start-line contact with Rookie Phonsy Mullins, bending his lower control arm.
Gerard McLeod was forced to withdraw his McMahon Mining and Construction backed Holden after contact with Rookie Troy Dontas who spun his Stellar Homes backed Ford at Turn 9.Young gun Josh Burdon did well to come home in 13th on his debut.
Number 9 was drawn out of a ballot draw by the Race 1 winner, which will determine the number of cars which will be reversed on tomorrow's grid. A judicial hearing is currently in process and the grid is due to be announced in the morning.The V8 Utes are back on track tomorrow to celebrate their 300th race, which will be televised LIVE as on Network Seven at 1:30pm (AEDST), along with Race 3 televised LIVE as on Sunday, 4 March at 1pm (AEDST).
See below top ten results pre - judicial1 Andrew Fisher Jesus Racing2 Ryal Harris Big Gun Racing3 Rhys McNally STRATCO Racing4 Kris Walton Rentco Racing5 Cameron McConville Bundaberg Racing6 Ryan Hansford Truckline Racing7 Gary Baxter Sage Automation/Roof Seal8 Kim Jane Bob Jane T-Marts9 Nathan Pretty Monster Energy10 Warren Luff Auto One Wildcard
