Ryal The Kid Harris won Race 1 and claimed a new lap record at Mount Panorama today (Saturday, 6th October) whilst Andrew Fishtail Fisher was stripped of his first place in Race 2, following an incident at Forrest Elbow. The Jesus for Life driver clashed with Gary MacDonald who was awarded first place post Race 2, in Round 5 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All.
Harris started on the front row alongside Monster Energys Nathan Pretty; however the Gold Coaster dominated right from the start, breaking George Miedeckes 2009 record in a time of 2:33.9791.
It feels so good to finally break the record. I was so close last year but its awesome to get a record under my belt, especially here at Bathurst, he said.
David Sideways Sieders also broke Miedeckes record and came home in second ahead, of Rentco Racings Kris Walton who took Pretty on lap five. Pretty drove well to hold out Andrew Fisher and claim fourth.
NRL star Jack Elsegood had a great run for his first time back in the car since Round 1, and claimed sixth in front of Bundaberg Racings Cameron McConville in seventh.
Truckline Racings Ryan Hansford also had a strong race and held out Bathurst veteran Gary MacDonald, to walk away with eighth. Rhys McNally rounded out the top ten in his Stratco backed Holden VE.
Early in the race Gerard McLeod, whos celebrating his Dads 25th anniversary of winning the Great Race alongside Peter Brock, came undone and spun at Murrays Corner after contact with Jeremy Gray, with Gary Chuckie Baxter unlucky to also get caughtending both their races.
On lap 3, Peter Burnitt and Phonsy Mullan had a coming together at Skyline after Burnitt put a move on the Ripshift backed Holden.
Hayley Swanson and Amber Anderson also hooked up on the last lap at Murrays Corner, sending Andersons V8 Nights Ford airborne, and into a 180 degree spin. Swanson was sent to the rear of the grid for the incident. Benn Wilson was also excluded from Race 1 after competing in the Race with unmarked tyres.
Rhys McNally was the lucky driver to start on the front row for the top ten reverse grid race.
McNally led off the line alongside Gary MacDonald, however the former Bathurst round winner took the West Aussie by the end of the first lap and soon after McConville also moved the Bundaberg ute into second.
Jesus Racings Andrew Fisher, who started on P5, was the big mover through the field and made a move on MacDonald for the lead at Forest Elbow. The two clashed a number of times through the corner, before Fisher had the better run onto Conrad Straight.
I was just lucky to save it, and then I thought Id lose a number of positions down the straight. Then I got angry and chased him down and had an enjoyable race none the less, said MacDonald. Race officials deemed Fishers move was not on, and he was penalised 5 places and stripped of the race win.
Cameron McConville had a great race and ended up second overall, ahead of Ryan Hansford and new series leader Ryal Harris. Fisher ended up 5th, from McNally, Pretty, Sieders, and Walton.
Auto One Wildcard driver, Tony Longhurst had a solid drive claiming 12th overall and Chris Pither Scholarship Holder Tom Williamson as well in 14th.
NZ driver Peter Ward finished 24th, James Urquhart 29th and Peter Robb 31st.
Steve Charmans Pizza Hut Ford had great race pace early on his Bathurst debut, however a power steering leak dropped him well back.
Jack Elsegoods luck ran out early after a call to the pits to remove a hanging rear bumper, while Gary Baxter picked up the SS Inductions Hard Charger Award for passing 13 utes in Race 2.
Harris now leads Nathan Pretty by 3 points in the ENZED Drivers Championship, while Fisher will look to resurrect his weekend with a strong Sunday session on the Mount,The V8 Utes will be back on track tomorrow morning at 8am (Eastern Daylight Saving Time) for Race 3 - the decider of Round 5 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All and the Race will be televised LIVE on Network Seven.
