Paul Stokell is the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, Series Champion, and Glen Seton is the MINI toast of Sydney after wrapping up the round win at the Sydney Telstra 500 over the weekend.
Seton sped his Trivett Classic MINI Garage John Cooper Works #24 to two wins over the course of the weekend and was the obvious stand out along with livewire Sydneysider Chris Alajajian and hard charging southern shire steerer Scott Bargwanna.
It was Tasmanian born Queensland domiciled Paul Stokell however who had the biggest reason to smile.
Though it was far from an easy road for him over the weekend (his wheel fell off in Race One) and he was never fully able to clinch a major race result, the talented Tassie racer now has 6 Australian Championships to his name.
“There were times this weekend when I honestly wondered if this moment was going to happen,” he told his rivals and teams at a post-event get together, “when the wheel came off I started to wonder whether my luck would even hold out. The DecoRug Racing Team gave me a great car though and we were able to bounce back and get the result we needed in Race Two to secure the Championship. I can’t thank Bill Gremos and our boys from DecoRug Racing enough.”
Chris Alajajian was third in the final race and second in the Series whilst Scott Bargwanna was second in the final race but third in the Series.
Although….
Alajajian WAS in the lead for the entire race until the last 500m when Bargwanna made a lunge on the inside of the Trivett Classic MINI Garage of “the Chris” and the duo made contact with Alajajian spearing off into the wall.
Seton went on to win as the pair behind him dusted themselves off and rejoined the race in their new positions.
David Brabham came home in fourth in the Pizza Capers UBER Star #50 capping off what was a memorable weekend for the 2009 Le Mans winner.
“If you thought it was hard winning the world’s biggest race,” he told his assembled rivals post-race, “try winning a MINI Challenge race with you guys. It’s harder than anyone realises. I have had a tremendous time this weekend and I can’t thank you all enough.”
Nathan Caratti (Glory Team Construction #10) came home in fifth for the final race, ending a comparatively quieter weekend than the previous round in his home track of Barbagallo Raceway where he cleaned house.
Stokell placed fifth ahead of the ever-consistent Beric Lynton (Crimsafe) in sixth, David Stillwell in the Stillwell MINI Garage #8 was seventh ahead of the always-lively Grant Doulman in the M3 Motorsport #1.
It was only the second round Doulman had contested all series so his form was good considering.
Impressive Victorian teenager Sean Carter didn’t really get going in his NOK (Next of Kin) Clothing #88 but the youngster will learn from the experience and bounce back in 2010 – he was 10th in the final race ahead of Grant Sherrin in the Sherrin Rentals entry.
Grant Denyer was 12th and in unfamiliar territory.
“I’m fast in the V8 Supercar,” he frowned, “so I can’t understand why I’m not a bit more competitive in the MINI. We just can’t seem to match some of these guys for speed and there are some really fast parts of this track where you need that straight line speed.”
In 13th position was the ever-improving John Modystach in the Prosurv #26 ahead of Iain Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals) and the Red Angus Pilsener entry of Brendon “BJ” Cook who must have been pleased to drive 5 minutes home to his own bed last night like many in the field.
Cairns Speedway Super Sedan driver Wayne Miles was 16th though that result was not a true testament to his commitment with some niggling dramas preventing “Milo” from scoring some more competitive track time and some better results accordingly.
Brendan Cook’s Series ended the way it started sadly with the #43 Transquip Hire entry backed into the concrete wall.
Cook was visibly disappointed and it was a sad conclusion for someone who had tried harder than many to register a solid result over the Sydney weekend.
RACE ONE
Chris Alajajian almost stole the first ever race at the Sydney Olympic Park from eventual winner Glenn Seton but the wily Gold Coaster used all his experience to retain the lead position on the final lap and narrowly come away with the victory.
“I was caught on the hop on the restart,” lamented Seton, “I was basically in the wrong gear when we took off and by then Chris had got a good run going on me. As we were heading down to the first corner I was already planning how I could get back by him.”
The exciting Sydney youngster did all he could to re-pass Seton as the Trivett Classic MINI sizzled past.
“He’s a good little racer,” Seton admitted, “its great to race with Chris like that and win the first ever MINI Challenge race at this Sydney Telstra 500.”
Alajajian placed right on the bumper of Scott Bargwanna in the ROCK Energy Drinks #79 who was naturally pleased to get a podium finish.
Championship leader Paul Stokell had a disastrous race in which his right front wheel came off and he ground to a stop in the DecoRug #27 bringing out the safety car and ending his chance to wrap up the series by finishing 7th.
“I can’t believe the luck I have sometimes,” frowned Stokell later, “this kind of thing shouldn’t happen but it has, right at the most critical part of the Championship.”
DecoRug Racing Team owner Bill Gremos was philosophical.
“That’s motor racing, you never can tell what’s going to happen. We just have to get back in there and wrap it up in the next race.”
David Brabham was impressive in his MINI Challenge debut wheeling the Pizza Capers UBER Star #50 around with speed and precision and towards the end of the race really looking like a podium prospect.
Brabham’s 15-year-old son Sam was a guest in the track commentary PA box for Dad’s racing, quipping, “he wasn’t too bad,” as the chequers fell.
West Aussie Nathan Caratti was fifth ahead of livewire Victorian David Stillwell in sixth, Beric Lynton eighth, Grant Sherrin ninth, Grant Denyer tenth, Grant Doulman eleventh, Brendan “BJ” Cook home in twelfth in the Red Angus Pilsener #97.
RACE TWO
Chris Alajajian extracted his revenge on Glen Seton with a strong win in the Trivett Classic MINI Garage #9 leading home the fast and consistent Scott Bargwanna in second place and Nathan Caratti’s Glory Team Construction #10 in third.
“The Chris” checked out and was never headed.
“I like this circuit as a Sydneysider I’m proud I can say I have raced here,” he grinned, “I can’t wait until Race Three tomorrow.”
The livewire of the race was undoubtedly David Brabham in the Pizza Capers UBER Star MINI as he really began to settle into the art of racing a John Cooper Works machine fast.
Brabham made a four way play for the lead heading down into turn one but was harpooned by Victorian rising star Sean Carter in the ROCK #98.
The incident blasted Brabham back several spots but the sensational UK based Aussie began to pick his way by and march towards the pointy end almost immediately.
Glen Seton was again impressive in his Trivett Classic MINI Garage #24 as he screamed home in fourth ahead of the ever improving Beric Lynton in fifth (Crimsafe) and David Brabham sixth.
“The cars are tremendous to drive,” grinned Brabham, “like anything would be around here they are a handful but they respond really nicely. I really enjoyed that race, I just wish we hadn’t been tagged from behind.”
Grant Sherrin brought the Sherrin Rentals #7 home in seventh in a polished display ahead of Paul Stokell and Grant Denyer respectively in their DecoRug dream machine.
Grant Doulman was just inside the top ten (with tenth) with the lively David Stillwell home in eleventh, Iain Sherrin in 12th, John Modystach in 13th and Brendan Cook (Transquip Hire) back in 14th.
Cairns Super Sedan Speedway driver Wayne Miles continued his consistent improvement in running 15th in the East Coast Traffic Solutions MINI ahead of Brendon “BJ” Cook in 16th and Sean Carter.
Carter had to serve a drive through penalty for his part in the Brabham incident.
The racing was indeed intense in Race 2 as the field bunched up in three and four wide formation on numerous occasions.
Top 12 Series Points in conclusion:
Paul Stokell 966
Chris Alajajian 918
Scott Bargwanna 873
Nathan Caratti 765
Grant Denyer 753
Beric Lynton 391.5
BJ Cook 376.5
John Modystach 358.5
Grant Sherrin 234
Sean Carter 201
Brendan Cook 198
David Stillwell 195
