Tilley tames for an all-in win as the Masters dominate in epic thriller

The final seven laps, the final race of the penultimate round of the Touring Car Masters and after an epic second race, the grid was strong, each muscle machine looking to roar and take its driver to the iconic Mount Panorama podium, and it was packed with action and speed, Masters veteran, Brad Tilley bringing it home on the limit to take the outright round, with Mason taking his Shelby all the way to the Class B victory in his mountain debut with the new vehicle.

Lining up in-front of a massive crowd, the Masters fired away from the line, Bowe, Miedecke and Abelnica three wide through the opening turn and onto Mountain Straight, Abelnicas XB taking command. Crick had bogged down, leaving Bressington with nowhere to go but somehow the #7 Camaro found the room to get through, contact with Mason unavoidable as the pack charged into the opening turn. As the fight commenced, you wouldve been forgiven for thinking it was a one lap sprint, contact between Abelnica and Miedecke sending the #95 Camaro to the grass, but a brilliant save kept the action clean.

Bressington was soon putting the moves on Kassulkes XB, two wheels on the grass on the run towards the climb, while Cameron Tilley was out wide looking for track room to take his Mustang to the head. Richards was all over the Bullas Mustang, the past champions both on full commitment, while up ahead Brad Tilley was all over the rear of Abelnicas Coupe still leading the field.

It was a freight train of muscle cars heading through Skyline and down into the Esses, nose to tail, the action was raw, Youlden was running wide and Richards capitalised on the opportunity, but for Crick he was now back in the field, progress afoot as he moved under Benson to rejoin the top 15. Brad Tilleys Falcon took the lead through the chase, Abelnica smoking but not slowing as he fought hard to stay at the helm.

Bowe was taking it to Miedecke, moving to the outside, Bressington was on the limit, with two wheels off along the straight, Almond also taking the wide line at turn one. Door to door it was for the #48 Coupe and Miedeckes  #95 Camaro, the pair in an on-going dual as they raced over the top of the mountain once more. Abelnica appeared to slow, Youlden roaring over the crest and with no time to react, tagged the rear of the race two winner, waiting for the field to pass before firing back into action from Forrest Elbow.

Having battled from the opening turn, Edwards and Bullas came down the mountain, Edwards braking early and with Bullas hot on his tail, the Mustang pulled out to make the pass but Edwards was back on the power, seeing contact between the pair and a long run across the grass, the Torana rejoining the track in a burst of dirt. No let up for any of the field, the laps were falling away and the carnage wouldnt end there, with Miedecke under pressure from Bowe and spinning on the climb up to the cutting, stranded facing the oncoming pack, Almond and Keene approaching fast, the nimble Porsches making their way through cleanly.

Richards and Kassulke were hard at it for fourth, Tilley leading from Bowe, Richards taking the position from Kassulke on the run to Conrod, but for Collins it was a trip to the pit lane, a busted radiator looking the cause as liquid spilled from the front of the XA. With three to go, Bowe went fastest, but Richards too was on the hunt, putting in the fastest sector times as the race and the round moved into the final stages. Disappointment once more for Wilson as he took the Charger to the pits early, but out front, it was the Tilley Falcon pulling away on the run to the chase.

Showing his experience and determination, Richards took more than a second out of the gap to his prey ahead in just one lap, going fastest with a 2:23.3611. Karanfilovski was recovering from another challenging weekend with earlier clutch dramas, having moved into 13th, Youlden was looking to regain ground form 20th, and Masons Shelby continued to look the dominant Pro-Sportsman entry into the top ten.

As the final lap was called early, Masters entries powering around the mountain at every turn, Richards had his final looks to find the room on Bressington through Forrest Elbow, finding the gap into Murrays to secure third, and with Bowe all over the rear of the Tilley Racing entry, it simply was not enough, Brad Tilley delighting the fans to charge the Falcon past the chequered flag, taking his first win of the season, and what a place to do it, the Masters veteran and crowd favourite saying

This is greatplenty of sideways action for sure.

The field were all well and truly into it from the first time up Mountain Straight and all over the mountain, it was serious, but what a feeling to come away with a win, and what a track to do it at! Its been a while since Ive had a win, and I think I picked the right race track to do it!

Its been a tough year with Cameron (Tilley) sitting out the season so far, and Ive only had the two rounds, so to come out fighting this weekend was great and were here to stay.

Tilley Racing is such a strong team, with everyone giving their all everytime we come and between the events to make sure that we can put on a great show, with great cars and some great drivingits a team unit were really proud of.

Class B Round Winner - Steve Mason #3 Shelby MustangThis is my favourite circuit - I pinch myself everytime I come hereits absolutely a boys dream to come here, and to have a win is unbelievable.

I dont think a Shelby has ever won here, so it could also be an Australian, maybe even a world first.

Ive got to thank the Carter brothers, Peter and Phil, who took the car back to Melbourne after the disastrous round at Queensland Raceway, then pulled the front end out and completely re-engineered the front end which is now perfect. Its not so much my driving, its the way the car is setup, its awesome and itll keep getting better as well be working on the rear end now that the front is right, and the car can only get faster.

Were already looking ahead to Sandown, and while every session is still testing and development, were absolutely here to win now so were trying to set ourselves up for next year and hoping to get some support for the team. We need the financial support to keep the development going and keep the successes getting better, and we think that were a really good chance at the Pro-Sportsman title in 2013 as the first full year with the Shelby.

Round 7, Bathurst, Class A OutrightTilley 164Bowe 164Kassulke 123

Round 7, Bathurst, Class B Pro-SportsmanMason 176Stillwell 164Benson 147

The Touring Car Masters is proudly supported by Shannons Insurance, Rare Spares, Unique Cars Magazine and the 2012 Australian Muscle Car Masters, with official suppliers Hoosier Tires and Australian Sports Marketing.