Australia: Round 7 in practice, qualifying and race one resultsMayhem sets the pace for a title teaser
Current Series Leader Marcus "Mayhem" Zukanovic holds onto his title hopes for another day, after a Lexmark Indy 300 Race One win for Round 7 of the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series.
The V8 Racing Utes opened the Lexmark Indy 300 with the first session of the day, but with practice, qualifying and Race One all finishing under red flag conditions, the Gold Coast public were only given a teaser of the high octane action of what is to come over the weekend.
Practice was cut short when Matthew O'Grady's brand new engine dropped a con rod and cut out forcing the session to finish prematurely.
The Lexmark Indy 300 crowd had a case of dejà vu when the red flag came out for the second time in the day during Qualifying, due to a fuel pump relay issue for South Australian Craig Dontas.
"It was disappointing, but slightly expected with the record I have developed,! between the V8 Utes and HSV Performance I haven't finished a qualifying session in over two years" said Craig Dontas "starting Race Two from the rear of the grid tomorrow should be a great challenge."
Scott "The Jet" Jennings in the Legrand Ute began his first race in the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series at Indy last year, however as a rookie, he qualified in position 32, dead last.
It didn't take long for his talent to shine through only a year later, the Sydneysider today finished Race One in the top ten, putting him in pole beside Darren Palmer position for Reverse Grid Race Two tomorrow.
The top three qualified within one second of each other with Zukanovic on the pace earning the fastest time 2:14.96, followed closely by two time series champ Damien White 2:15.31 and Ex-NRL Roosters star Jack Elsegood 2:15.90.
Zukanovic, the current series leader in the Unior Tools Ford B! F Falcon XR8 held the lead in Race One from the start to the chequered flag, keeping his place at the top of the Series leader board. Team IMB's Damien White took second place, with Coopers driver Jack Elsegood making the Ford trifecta in third. With two races left this weekend and one round left in the series, Marcus is not loosening his tight grip on the hopes of a title win.
"After my crash last year, I know how easy it is to come undone at Indy, so my goal this weekend is to just keep it clean, finish and have fun" Zukanovic said.
During Race One, Steve Hodges from Hi Tech Motorsport went into the first chicane with a little too much enthusiasm, hitting the tyre wall and spinning 180 degrees.
Gold Coast local, Brendon "The Tiger" Tucker also fell prey to the concrete jungle of the Surfers Paradise street circuit when he hit the wall short after the second chicane, bringing out the red flag and en! ding Race One..
Today's Ute events weren't all brute, with off track displays creating quite a stir.
Based at the Gold Coast International Hotel the V8 Utes and V8 Supermodel International Finalists have been turning heads during bikini photo shoots and driver signings.
Fair Go Motors/AUSARC driver Ryal Harris stands out a treat with his Ute's new pink livery, the local talent is supporting Breast Cancer Month with his recent donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation. The once in a lifetime hot lap experience went up for auction earning the charity over $2000.
Race 1 Results
71 Marcus Zukanovic F
1 Damien White F
11 Jack Elsegood F
88 Kerry Wade F
3 Gary Baxter H
47 Grant Johnson H
41 Yanis Derums H
22 James Brock H
45 Darren Palmer F
8 Scott Jennings F
