Two Coopers on ice in the Darwin heat - Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series
Driving the Grove Fruit Juice Commodore, Grant Johnson didn't waste any time in the fight to regain his place as series leader, peeling back the pressure and putting on a flawless display to win Race One of the Yokohama V8 Ute series at Darwin's Hidden Valley today.
The sandgroper fought on to squeeze his way past fellow Western Australian Kerry Wade and current series leader Marcus "Mayhem" Zukanovic, both in Ford BF Falcon XR8s.
Ford's dominated the front row in qualifying, but Johnson pressured both the leading Ford's to move into second at the end of the straight out braking team mate Wade, then taking Zukanovic on lap 8 with a classy move on the run from Turn 7.
The king of the race, or so he feels was the Action Tyres and More entry of Gold Coast driver Matt Kingsley with a spectacular turn around in performance.
Following yesterday's dismal practice session after being forced out on the first lap due to engine failure, Kingsley made up for lost ground today moving up 11 positions in only 12 laps.
Also moving forward was Team IMB's Damien "Ice" White, but a last lap tangle with the two Cooper entries of Jack Elsegood and James Small dropped the reigning champ back to 7th.
"Yeah the two Cooper Utes really put the squeeze on Damien all race, and in the end the Iceman melted under pressure," chipped Elsegood. "It was the kind of racing that the Darwin fans would love to see."
Andrew Fawcett, Darren Palmer and Brendon Tucker all slid off the track to join Ice in a meltdown.
"I just couldn't keep my cool" said star Fawcett as he looped the BVC Ford at the end of the straight dropping seven places.
Tucker returned to the track, but exited the race after only eight laps due to rocker failure.
With less fortune, and only five laps, "Pretty in Pink" Holden SS Commodore driver Ryal Harris left the scene with another harsh blow to his luck and gear box.
Sydney panel beater Nandi Kiss has some weekend overtime after the bonnet flew up on the warm up lap, smashing the windscreen on his Holden Commodore. The team will source a replacement in time for Race Two.
Tomorrow's top ten reverse grid will see Holden's Kim Jane and Ford's Ashley Cooper start on the front row, with today's race winner Grant Johnson back in 10th and series leader Marcus Zukanovic's Unior Tools Ford alongside.
The grid for the final race will be set by the aggregate points from Races One and Two.
Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series - Race 1 Race Results
Grant Johnson Holden SS Commodore
Marcus Zukanovic Ford BF Falcon XR8
Kerry Wade Ford BF Falcon XR8
Gary Baxter Holden SS Commodore
James Small Ford BF Falcon XR8
Jack Elsegood Ford BF Falcon XR8
Damien White Ford BF Falcon XR8
James Brock Holden SS Commodore
Ashley Cooper Ford BF Falcon XR8
Kim Jane Holden SS Commodore
