The sixth round of the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, will go down in history as one of the most significant yet in terms of successful debutants with Glenn Seton, John Martin, Ryan Hansford, Sean Carter and Tom Pickett in particular making spectacular first off appearances.
John Martin, the A1GP Team Australia star who had no ‘sedan’ experience at all too his credit prior to the weekend, powered to a strong third place behind Nathan Caratti and race winner Paul Stokell but at one point he might have even pulled off second place on debut.
Paul Stokell started his DecoRug Racing #27 John Cooper Works R56 on pole position alongside Caratti’s Glory Team Construction #10 but the West Aussie got the jump and led early.
Glen Seton had started on the second row in his Pizza Capers #50 entry but the legendary Aussie wheel twister was tagged by the late braking Grant Denyer in the DecoRug #95 and they both spun into the wall in turn three.
Denyer’s front wheel sheared off not long later as a result of the impact with the rear of the Pizza Capers MINI but Seton picked up and stormed back from the rear of the field to finish a creditable 8th.
Seton’s fancy footwork heel-toe style was caught on the giant video screens and will be a major part of the MINI Challenge TV coverage thanks to a cleverly placed onboard camera.
The DecoRug car of Paul Stokell hustled through into the lead after passing Caratti not long after.
Nathan Caratti chased Stokell for the race’s entirety but in doing so almost fell into the clutches of the fast closing John Martin.
“I had a fantastic time,” grinned Martin later, “I was hoping to get him (Caratti) but I couldn’t quite get it done. The braking in these cars is unbelievable. I’m disappointed we couldn’t get second but we’re improving every time so I hope we can get a win.”
Chris Alajajian’s mechanical woes in qualifying yesterday saw the Sydneysider start from the rear of the field in his Standox Paints #9 but it didn’t take the electric youngster long to scream from 17th to 7th in the first two laps and then move past Beric Lynton (Crimsafe) and safely into 6th.
With the ‘top 6 inversion’ format in place for Race Two tomorrow Alajajian will start on pole position alongside sensational debutant Ryan Hansford in the Fantasea / Duce #24.
Scott Bargwanna’s consistency was again a hallmark of Race One with a strong fourth place finish in the ROCK Energy Drinks #79 ahead of Ryan Hansford, Alajajian, seventh placed Beric Lynton, Glenn Seton, Brendan “BJ” Cook (Matchmaster TV Reception Systems), Sean Carter (ROCK, Bell Helmets), Tom Pickett (Jibba Racing), Grant Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals), Iain Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals) John Modystach (Prosurv), Brendan Cook (Transquip Hire) and Wayne Miles (East Coast Traffic Solutions).
Final results:
Paul Stokell
Nathan Caratti
John Martin
Scott Bargwanna
Ryan Hansford
Chris Alajajian
Beric Lynton
Glenn Seton
Brendon “BJ” Cook
Sean Carter
Tom Pickett
Grant Sheerin
Iain Sherrin
John Modystach
Brendan Cook
Wayne Miles
Grant Denyer (DNF)
Race Two of Round Six of the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers will be held at 2.05pm tomorrow (Saturday) EST Time.
