The Series battle continued today at the Grand Finale of the 2012 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All, with David Sieders closing the title gap to just 9 points on Series leader Ryal Harris after Race 1, Saturday, 1st December at Sydney Olympic Park.
Bundaberg Racings Cameron McConville won the race, setting a new lap record in a time of 1:46.5684.
It was a good start. I had all three pedals down at once. The car is really good on cold tyres at the moment, which sets up the race for us, so we just have to keep it rocking for tomorrow, said McConville.
Monster Energys Nathan Pretty closed the gap on David Sieders after comfortably claiming second in Race one. He is now only 29 points behind Sieders in the fight for second and 36 off the top spot.
Im definitely still looking at the title. I just wish I was as fast as Cam (McConville). I just need to keep putting some good points on the board. Its definitely game on, Ill have my elbows out, said Pretty.
Sieders was next over the line under pressure from Harris in 4th, and 2012 Rookie of the year Kris Walton. Sieders was just happy to bring the Mango Credit Ford home after contact with the ripple strip at Turn 2 early in the Race.
It was a tough race; I had a mad start going over the ripple strip at turn 2, which did something to the underneath of the ute. I was hoping it was just going to stay together. It was creaking and clunking, so I was just trying to make it home, said Sieders.
ENZED Championship Series leader Harris (LCE QLD) got squeezed out by Ryan Hansford and Andrew Fisher at turn one. He was pushed back to seventh but proved he had the fastest Ford by taking Walton on lap 7 and moved in on Sieders, the two coming together at least once, however with only an 8 lap race, Sieders did well to hold the Gold Coaster out.
I got hammered at the start and had to make-up a lot of spots. We pushed through and I finished behind Sieders, who kept making mistakes, said Harris.
Walton bought his Rentco Ford home in fourth, ahead of Andrew Fisher in fifth. With only another 70 points up for grabs this weekend, Fisher is now out of the title fight but is still in a chance for a second or third for the year.
Sixth over the line was Thirsty Camels Craig Dontas, a good celebration for his 150th Race start. Truckline Racings Ryan Hansford played catch-up throughout the race, after he also ran into issues with the ripple strip at turn two and clouted the tyre wall.
Kim Jane had a good battle with Gerard McLeod coming home in 9th, ahead of the fellow Melbourne Rookie who did a great job to claim his second top ten result for the year in the Macmahon Mining Holden.
Sean Carter also had a great run in his Sucker Punch Energy Holden and will start on the front row tomorrow after the number 12 was pulled out for the grid inversion for Race 2. He will start alongside debutant and 2012 Formula Ford champ Jack Le Brocq in the Ice Break Holden.
Race 2 kicks off at 8:45am tomorrow morning, followed by the Series decided at 1:45pm, which will be televised LIVE on the Network Seven.
Country Singer Adam Brand will perform live on the grid prior to the start of Race 3, and Jack The Hustler Elsegood celebrate his 300th Race.
