West Aussie Nathan Caratti had been showing signs in the previous two rounds that he was capable of a big win, and today he showed the necessary car speed and driver skill to hand the field a big smack in Race One of MINI Challenge at the Dunlop Townsville 400.
Caratti sped the Glory Team Constructions #10 from pole position to an all the way win despite the best efforts of Chris Alajajian and Paul Stokell to run him down in front of an enormous crowd of enthusiastic race fans.
“I was really pleased with the car. We had good speed in the second sector in particular of each lap and the longer Chris (Alajajian) and Paul battled behind me the more I could open up some ground,” said the obviously pleased Swanbourne (WA) based hard charger.
For some time Chris Alajajian (Standox Paints) battled with Paul Stokell (DecoRug Racing) for second place with the young Sydneysider eventually eluding the clutches of his more experienced adversary but not before Stokell tried some banzai inside passes under brakes.
“We’re giving away some straight line speed,” explained Stokell post-race, “I think our 40kg success ballast might have something to do with it but maybe it’s our package a bit as well. This car has been running hard for almost two seasons now. I couldn’t catch Chris in a straight line so I had to give him heaps under brakes.”
Grant Denyer avenged his disappointing qualifying (starting him from the fourth row of the grid) run to place fourth in the second DecoRug machine.
“These cars are such great fun to drive,” he grinned later, “I was average in qualifying but I was able to put a few doorhandles inside some guys and get some spots. I think (Warren) Luffy and I will combine well and I’m confident we’re going to get that trophy tomorrow.”
Scott Bargwanna battled for lap after lap with Grant Denyer before eventually settling for fifth in the ROCK Energy Drinks #79.
Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver Geoff Emery was impressive in the Stillwell MINI Garage #8, climbing into sixth after starting back on the fourth row of the grid whilst the seventh car home was Grant Sherrin in the Sherrin Hire #7.
Sherrin had controversially made contact with Todd Wanless mid-race as the pair came into the final corner of that respective lap – the result seeing Wanless spinning and Beric Lynton also getting caught up in the melee.
“I missed a gear coming out of the previous corner so Grant got a run on me,” explained Wanless, “but there wasn’t room to go on with the pass and we made contact as a result.”
All cars rejoined the field but Wanless and Lynton in particular lost any chance of a big result.
Following Sherrin home in 8th position was the significantly improved John Modystach in the Prosurv #26 car ahead of Brendon “BJ” Cook (ROCK Energy Drinks) and Todd Wanless soldiered back to 9th ahead of V8 Ute Series Sales and Marketing Man Matt Mackelden in 10th.
Kiwi Ant Pederson came home in 11th ahead of a disappointed Beric Lynton in 12th.
WRC hard charger Chris Atkinson in the Uber Star car – he unfortunately had turbo issues curtail his day.
West Aussie Paul Fiore suffered mechanical issues in the Transquip Hire #43 that he’s sharing with Brendan Cook, Townsville racer Wayne Lamont rode out a wild spin that attacked the lush green infield lawn but enjoyed the MINI Challenge experience enormously.
Qualifying earlier in the day saw Nathan Caratti fastest ahead of Paul Stokell, Grant Sherrin and Chris Alajajian.
Final Qualifying order:
Nathan CarattiPaul StokellGrant SherrinChris AlajajianTodd WanlessScott BargwannaGrant DenyerGeoff EmeryChris Atkinson Brendon “BJ” Cook Beric Lynton John Modystach Wayne Lamont Ant Pederson Paul Fiore Matt Mackelden
Race Two is scheduled for Sunday morning before the 35 minute shared driver with compulsory pit stop affair kicks in live on Network SEVEN from Noon Sunday.
Round Three of the 2009 MINI Challenge is delivered by Pizza Capers
