Blue Mountains based David Sieders claimed Race 1 today, (Saturday, 12th October) and Kim “The Assassin” Jane will start from Pole for Race 2 after a top 9 inversion was pulled from a Ballot draw for Round 6 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by ARMOR ALL at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
Sieders started on the front row alongside Erebus Motorsports Stephen White. White had a great start and held the lead out of turn 1 and for the next 2 laps, before Sieders made a great move and passed him with all 4 wheels off the track through The Chase. Sieders then went on to take the win by almost 2 seconds.
“It’s great to get a win; we’ll be starting from P9 next so we’ll see how we go. Anything can happen here at the mountain,” said Sieders.
Although White lost the lead he was still wrapt with his result.
“We’re ecstatic, Bathurst is a pretty big weekend for every category in motorsport so to finish second today was unbelievable and to have led 2 laps was an incredible feeling.
It will be tough starting from 8th f for Race 2, the top ten is so strong but I’ll just have to be patient and use my brain,” he said.
Jesus Racing’s Andrew Fisher had a great race, he was right on the tail of Sieders and White early in the race, until a small error dropped him off the leading duo, but he recovered well to put in a top 3 result.
Rookie Jesse Dixon had a great Race, the 2012 Shannon’s Supercar Showdown Winner and Bathurst 1000 contestant almost drove his own race, holding out the pack behind him to bring his Hayman Reese Racing’s Holden home in 4th.
The battle was on for 5th between Jeremy Gray and Ryan Hansford. Hansford was all over Gray for most of the race however the Muswellbrook driver put in a stellar performance to hold the Queenslander, who walked away with 6th.
There was another battle pack for 7th, Kim Jane (who was celebrating his 250th Race) held the lead until lap 5 and both Craig Dontas and Kris Walton took him and had to settle for 9th, which ultimately worked out in his favour, Gary MacDonald was also in the battle pack rounded out the top ten.
Jane is looking forward to his second front row start for the year.
“We had a front row at Townsville and a good start, so hope if we can keep up the good form with the starts, and stay out the front it will be great for the team and our sponsors Bob Jane T-Marts, Adecco, Shark Bite Australia and Kaos Fabrication. I haven’t had a race win here since 2009 so it would be nice,” said Jane.
Gerard McLeod lost ground in lap 5 when he spun around on the main straight narrowly missing the wall, he was just outside the top ten at the time and ended in 23rd overall.
Noel Edge didn’t’ celebrate his 150th race how he would have like, having issues in the second last lap and spun out at the chase, he was lucky to escape minimal damage to the car. The Adelaide driver dropped a wheel into the dirt coming into the Chase, which sent him flying backwards in the sand strap at 250 kph.
“Just checking the temperature of the sand wasn’t too hot for my blue heeler, when I take him for a wee break later,” Edge quipped.
Nathan Pretty, excluded from Qualifying due to his V8 Ute being underweight, started Race 1 from the rear of the grid.
Pretty had moved into the Series lead yesterday after claiming 3rd overall in the session, but will have to fight back now after finishing 17th by the end of the race, however is determined to keep fighting.
“It just seems like we’re beaten from pillar to post whether it’s on or off the track. We had a run in with the judicial system run by the boys in blue on the way into the track, and then another judicial system decision went against us on track. So it’s one of those things. It takes a bigger harder hit that to keep me down, but I’ll keep fighting on for my team and my sponsors, just battle on, you don’t lie down,” said Pretty.
Ryal Harris still leading the Series on 645 points ahead of Sieders who has jumped back into second on 638 and Pretty is in 3rd on 617 points.
The V8 Utes will hit the track at 2:10pm for Race 2, which will be televised LIVE on Network Seven followed by Race 3 tomorrow (Sunday, 13th October) at 8am, which will also be aired on Network Seven.
