Paul Stokell’s consistency and outright speed netted him another Round Win in the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers and as a result further secures his lead in the series after a pleasing weekend at the Nikon SuperGP on the Gold Coast.
Though the DecoRug driver chased home Sydneysider Chris Alajajian in the final race of the weekend he had enough overall points to score the Round victory and yet another major success for DecoRug Racing Team owner Bill Gremos.
“This is a great event,” explained points leader Stokell, “the track is fantastic and the event is awesome and I want to say a big thanks to Pizza Capers for making it possible. Big thanks also to Bill Gremos from DecoRug for putting together such a fantastic team and I’m just happy we can add more Championship points to our lead.”
Chris Alajajian was typically fast in the NAB / Standox Paints #9 John Cooper Works MINI and powered home to register his second race win for the weekend.
On Day One he’d come from the back of the field to register 6th which he then converted to pole position from Race Two on Day Two which he promptly won.
He narrowly led home Tassie born Queenslander Paul Stokell in second ahead of another impressive performance from second generation racer Ryan Hansford in the Fantasea Cruises #24 in third, Scott Bargwanna in the ROCK Energy Drinks #79 in fourth and Glenn Seton in the Pizza Capers #50 UBER Star entry rounding out the top five.
Seton was a wonderful ambassador for MINI and the Pizza Capers company and was easily one of the best performed drivers in the almost two-year history of the UBER Star concept in MINI Challenge.
Nathan Caratti was down on his usual speed in the Glory Team Constructions entry for much of the weekend but in the final race he was blisteringly quick and giving Glenn Seton heaps for an eventual sixth ahead of the much improved Beric Lynton (Crimsafe #23) in seventh, Sean Carter (who was reprimanded for using a little too much kerb) in the ROCK Energy Drinks entry ahead of Grant Sherrin who improved with each outing in the Sherrin Rentals #7.
Tom Pickett was an impressive debutant in the Jibba Racing entry and came home tenth ahead of Grant Denyer in the second of the DecoRug machines who was probably a little relieved that his weekend was over after being in the horrors more often than not.
After starting the weekend with a migraine headache that curtailed his qualifying session early, Yatala’s John Modystach finished a creditable 12th in the Prosurv machine ahead of Iain Sherrin in the Sherrin Rentals entry in 13th.
Brendan Cook rewarded his Motorline Team with a finish and a 14th place in his #43 Transquip Hire entry after they ‘pulled an all nighter” to repair the car and give him the chance to race on Sunday.
“I’m so appreciative of the work that the teams put in,” admitted Cook post-race, “It means a lot to me that the team worked so hard for me to line up today. I can’t thank them enough.”
The weekend was deemed a major success for the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, on many levels.
The introduction of newcomers Glenn Seton, Ryan Hansford, Tom Pickett, Sean Carter, Wayne Miles, Grant and Iain Sherrin into the mix as debutants saw some spirited competition and some exciting new stoushes.
Gregg Hansford would have been proud of son Ryan after the young man put in a polished performance in very unfamiliar surroundings and worked hard for his eventual third place and podium finish.
Team Manager Rod Dawson was delighted with Hansford’s debut.
“I think he’s passed the first test with flying colours,” he grinned from Pit Lane, “I think we need to look into getting some more seat time in the MINI Challenge. It’s a good fit for Ryan.”
