MINI Challenge 2009 

Nathan Caratti was very much like the MINI Challenge Series Sponsor Pizza Capers.  The quietly spoken West Aussie was hot, fresh and delivered on time as he stormed to an all the way win in his Glory Team Construction #10 JCW (John Cooper Works MINI) in Race One.

 "Yeah it was a good win," conceded the winner, "they (Denyer and Stokell) were fighting behind me and that allowed me to get away. When I got a bit of a gap I settled down, avoided some of the debris on the track and backed off a bit. It's a good win for us." Grant Denyer was unable to have much impact on the leader's pace given that he was busy enough with his own race protecting second place from DecoRug Racing team mate Paul Stokell. Stokell was a livewire for much of the event and really harassing Denyer before the #27 DecoRug car shut down late in the race.

"I wish I could tell you what's wrong but right now we don't know," admitted the disappointed advanced driving instructor, "it just shut down and we couldn't fire it again. It's definitely an electrical issue but what it actually is we're not sure yet." The find of the weekend so far is former V8DVS driver Robbie Jones. Jones took the #1 M3 (Peter Doulman) RE-CAR entry to an eventual third place finish in his first ever MINI Challenge race and was clearly pleased with the experience so far.

 "I think he's already thinking about doing this again," said proud Dad Bob Jones, on hand to help out and provide moral support, "he did a good job I think." Coming home in fourth was the ever-consistent Scott Bargwanna in the ROCK Energy Drinks JCW ahead of Beric Lynton in fifth. "I'm happy with fifth," he grinned, "I thought at one point sixth was looking good and possibly pole position in Race Two, but then when the opportunity to get fifth came up I couldn't knock it back."

Sixth home was Scott Manson (an impressive effort from the debutant) ahead of Chris Alajajian (who speared off the track early and never really made it back into contention) John Modystach, Brendon "BJ" Cook, Robbie Maddison and Brendan Cook. "I missed the start badly and that really hurt," admitted the affable Maddison, "and then I tested the ABS a bit hard in at least two corners and I shot off the track. I made too many mistakes, but I had a ball. It's so much fun." Maddison has been a real hit with fans of all ages, with plenty of interest surrounding his MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, debut at Philip Island. Brendon "BJ" Cook has been impressed with Maddison too, to the point where the pair waved to each other several times during their on-track battle. "I waved at him as a bit of a joke and he waved back," said Cook, "so I waved again and for the next couple of laps it was quite comical."

QUALIFYING  Caratti's fourth lap of the session netted him the fastest time for the session with a 1.48.6285 ahead of birthday boy Grant Denyer, Paul Stokell, Scott Bargwanna, Chris Alajajian, Robbie Jones, Beric Lynton and Scott Manson. Pizza Capers UBER Star driver Robbie Maddison timed in 9th with easily his best time of the weekend until that point registering a 1.51.2792 on the last lap of his session (10). "Where does he find the extra time?" he questioned of Caratti's time, "I mean I guess he's not going to tell me but I'd like to know."

Following Modystach in the time sheets was John Modystach, Brendon "BJ" Cook and Brendan Cook.