Livewire Sydneysider Chris Alajajian was a jubilant victor in Race Two of Round Six of the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers – held at the Nikon SuperGP, despite the best efforts of international open wheel star John Martin, Paul Stokell and Ryan Hansford.
The win by the hard charging NAB / Standox Paints sponsored pilot was a tremendous reward for his busy race the day before where he came from 17th to a sizzling 6thplace by race’s end.
With Race Two featuring a top six inversion it vaulted “The Chris” on to pole position for the start of today’s race and he took full toll of that by not being headed throughout the 6 lap affair.
International open wheel star John Martin did his level best to run down the leader but at a critical moment as he closed in Martin tagged the concrete wall on his left side exiting the turn one chicane and turned hard right into the wall on the opposite side.
John’s #16 John Cooper Works R56 met the wall hard and the talented Queenslander was shaken but not stirred, though he was treated later for a suspected fractured wrist and dehydration.
Martin was later released with a sprained wrist and will take no further part in the weekend’s competition.
“It’s a shame, I was having a great time,” he conceded, “I got too much of the inside kerb and I two-wheeled a split second too long which put me into the tyre barriers a bit on the outside of the track. When I hit the wall on the left it spat me across the other side and I drilled the wall. We didn’t come here to run second so we were going for the win. I guess these things happen sometimes.”
Paul Stokell came from 6thon the grid after yesterday’s win to place second behind Alajajian with impressive debutant Ryan Hansford coming in third in his Fantasea / Duce #24 John Cooper Works MINI.
Glenn Seton was again impressive in his Pizza Capers UBER Star #50 coming in fourth ahead of the ever improving Beric Lynton (Crimsafe) Scott Bargwanna (ROCK Energy Drinks) Grant Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals) Sean Carter (Rock Energy Drinks), Brendan “BJ” Cook (Matchmaster TV Reception Systems), John Modystach (Prosurv), Iain Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals) Grant Denyer (DecoRug Racing), Tom Pickett and Speedway Super Sedan driver and dirt to bitumen MINI debutant Wayne Miles (East Coast Traffic Solutions).
Grant Denyer had another tough day at the office.
After getting tangled up yesterday with Glen Seton the hard charging Sydneysider tangled his DecoRug #95 with Brendan Cook on the back straight as the duo entered the BP Ultimate chicane and the solidly built Queenslander (Cook, not Denyer) slammed the wall hard before grinding to a halt.
“We’re taking the car back to Motorline MINI Garage tonight to pull an all nighter,” frowned one of the Cook crew, “we’re hoping we can have him back on track tomorrow for the last race.”
The debutants for this weekend continue to impress despite none of them having any MINI experience except for a few laps at the recent Roadshow events.
Ryan Hansford has made the transition from Geminis to MINI Challenge without hesitation and has been well within reach of the podium on both of his races so far.
Sean Carter has made an easy transition from Porsche racing to MINI Challenge also and the 18 year old has more than held up his end of the bargain for the newly expanded Bargwanna ROCK Energy Drinks team.
Wayne Miles is making the transition from the clay track with his 700hp Super Sedan Speedway car to the nimbleness of the John Cooper Works R56 MINI.
“Everything you learn about driving a Speedway car you throw away,” he admitted, “it’s very different to what these guys do, but I can appreciate both disciplines now. I’m settling in.”
Miles will do the remaining two rounds at Barbagallo and Homebush also.
The third and final race of the weekend at the Nikon SuperGP for MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, is scheduled for 10.25am EST (Queensland) time.
