Sydney driver David Sieders claimed the ARMOR ALL Pole Award for the third time at Hidden Valley Raceway (2011/2012), and went on to dominate Race 1, Round 3 of the 2014 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series – fuelled by Hogs Breath at Hidden Valley Raceway Saturday, 21st June.
The Formula 1 style 3 tiered qualifying format saw Sieders take Pole by 9/100ths of a second from Ryan Hansford and Kris Walton. Andrew Fisher, Grant Johnson and Nathan Pretty rounded out the top 6, from Wayne Wakefield, Rhys McNally, Kim Jane and Elliot Barbour.
Reigning Champ Ryal Harris missed the Top 10 qualifying cut, while rookie driver Phil Woodbury put in a solid performance to qualify 17th.
Sieders grabbed an early lead in the 12 lap race; however Turn 1 claimed Miedecke and Fisher, forcing Miedecke’s Wakeup/ iseek Holden into the pits.
Walton made a move on teammate Hansford for 2nd on Lap 3 before Elliot Barbour’s Just Cars Insurance Holden ended up in the sand trap, after contact with Wayne Wakefield’s Ford.
Following the safety car res-start, Wakefield was again in the wars, this time with Nathan Pretty through Turn 1.
“It was a tough race, I got sandwiched off the start and hit by Barbour, who was trying to unload me through Turn 1, then unfortunately I out-braked myself and hit Nathan Pretty later in the race. I hope I haven’t ruined his weekend, but mine is certainly shot,” Wakefield said.
Auto One’s Adam Marjoram had a great run through the field to finish 10th, after starting from 23rd on the grid, while Spud Wood, Gerard McLeod, Danny Buzadzic and David Ling all failed to finished. Phil Woodbury was up to 12th, but a late race incident with Danny Buzadzic and Spud Wood saw the “Lithgow Flash” drop back to 16th at the end.
Sieders won by just under a second from Walton, Hansford, and Grant Johnson, Rhys McNally was the first Holden home from Ryal Harris, Craig Dontas, Jeremy Gray and Jesse Dixon.
“It was great to win from pole, this proves we have the speed to take it to the series leader Kris Walton, and helps close the points gap,” Sieders said post-race.
Sieders is only three points off Walton after his achievements today.
Miedecke was disappointed at not finishing Race 1, however said not to write off his team yet.
“It’s a shame to not finish Race 1 for 2 rounds in a row, I got caught up in the Turn 1 melee, and was trying not to hit Elliot Barbour, when I was hit from behind by Gerard McLeod. The guy that hit everyone in that race was Wayne Wakefield, I suspect he will spend the rest of the weekend hiding in his transporter!,” Miedecke said.
Queensland’s Peter Burnitt also had a strong run, starting 27th on the grid, and finishing 15th in the Cetnaj Ford.
Sieders drew ball 14 for the Race 2 ballot draw, subject to post race hearings from Race 1, Andrew Fisher will start on pole with Adelaide’s Noel Edge alongside for only the second front row start in his 10 year V8 Ute career in the Australian Conveyor Racing Ford.
Race 2 is scheduled to start at 11:00am local time tomorrow (Sunday June 22) with Race 3 televised live on the SEVEN Network at 1:30pm (AEST) local time (Check Local Guides).
