Ryal The Kid Harris has been crowned the 2012 ENZED drivers champion and the winner of the 2012 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected Armor All at the Sydney Telstra 500, however Cameron McConville clinched the final Round, Sunday, 2nd December 2012.
Harris has been in the Series since 2004, almost won in 2005 and again last year, however he put together a superb year to take the series win. The Gold Coaster will also walk away with a Ford Performance Racing test in a V8 Supercar.
Its been a long time coming and I just want to dedicate this to my team manager Joe Devries and his wife Mo. They lost a child a few months ago and hes worked so hard on my car this year, and I want to dedicate the win to them. I also want to thank Big Gun Racing ,they through me a life-line, Peter Burnitt, without him I wouldnt be racing, and obviously my family, Dad for persisting with me in the early years, and my mum and girlfriend Cassie, Its just a great feeling, said Harris.
At the start of the day, there were three drivers in the running for the title, David Sieders, Nathan Pretty and Harris. After Race 2 was deemed a non-race due to two incidents, 35 points were lost in the championship ending Prettys chance of a title.
It was really disappointing; it would have been nice to end with a real fight all the way to the finish. The DNF at the Gold Coast really damaged our chances but it was still nice to stand on the podium at the end of the weekend, its just a shame it wasnt for the championship, said Pretty.
Race 3 kicked off with Harris and Sieders side by side on the Grid behind Pretty and McConville. McConville led away and set a new lap record (breaking his own from Race 1) in a time of 1:45.5326. McConville will be stepping out of the Series after this round and is happy to end on a win.
Its a great way to end the season and also my time in the Utes. Ive really enjoyed my time in this category. Its unfortunate to walk away but Ill be watching with interest next year, said McConville.
Pretty had a good run off the start and held on to second to take second for the Race and Third for the Championship. Sieders was hot on the heels of Prettys Monster Energy Holden trying to get the last points (10 more than Harris). Unfortunately for the Western Sydney driver, the Mango Credit Ford had gear selection issues over the last lap of the race and he dropped from 3rd back to Sixth. Sixth was still enough to hand Sieders third for the Round and second in the Series.
In the last race I couldnt get into second and fourth gear, luckily it was the last lap. Its tough to get so close and just have it slip out of reach, but Im really happy with how we have performed overall most poles, most lap records, most podiums in fact I havent missed one since Darwin and were consistently the fastest Ford, we just couldnt get there in the end because of a few issues at the start of the year with car shutting down at Adelaide in lead of Race 1, and a broken hub sending us to the sand at Perth in 2nd. Well just have to come back and try again next year, said Sieders.
Craig Dontas slipped by Sieders to claim third for the race ahead of Series winner Harris in his SS Inductions/ Roylances Ford. 2012 Rookie of the Year Kris Walton came home in fifth ahead of Bob Jane T-Marts Kim Jane. Andrew Fisher drove home in 8th after he was put back to start from 11th on the grid, with a penalty of 5 grid spots for contributing to the Race 2 incident.
Come-back King Charlie OBrien claimed ninth for the Race and Ryan Hansford rounded out the top ten in his Truckline Racing Ford.
Craig Dontas took out the Champion Spark Plugs Hole Shot Award for the best Race Start in Race 3.
Peter Burnitt claimed the SS Inductions Hard Charger Award and $500 cash for passing the most amount of Utes in Race 1. Warren Millet took out the Masters Award for the best performing driver on the weekend over 45 years of age.
Todd Zani won the Armor All Best Presented Award and Peters Motorsport won the Team Award for the weekend.
The V8 Utes will be back for the start of their 2013 season at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide next March but to recap on all of the action from the final round tune in to Network Seven next weekend, Saturday, 8th December from 2pm (check local guides).
