Craig “Thirsty” Dontas and Wayne “Wahoo” Wakefield have both walked away with their first V8 Ute Podium, whilst David Sieders claimed Round 1 and Race 3 of the 2014 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by HAWKEI at the Clipsal 500, Adelaide, Sunday, 2nd March.
Sieders was rapt to stand on the Clipsal 500 podium for the first time since 2010.
“Three out of the 5 years we have raced here I’ve stepped onto the podium, so it’s good to be back. We have a healthy lead in the championship as well so bring on Perth, and let’s try and extend it,” said Sieders.
Once Sieders hit the second corner he never looked back.
“Craig had a ripper start behind me. I waited til the last possible moment into Turn 1 so he couldn’t switch the other way - so once we consolidated the lead, I wasn’t’ even pushing hard in that race."
Dontas’ Thirsty Camel Holden managed to stay in the top three until mid-race when George Miedecke and Stratco Racing’s Rhys McNally got through after Wakefield tagged the wall in Turn 8. Dontas managed to hold on and came home in 6th overall for the Race, securing him his first V8 Ute Podium.
“Feeling pretty good at the moment, at home in front of your family, friends and obviously my work place as well, so you couldn’t ask for a dream result and a dream start to the year.”
“We made a bit of a change and the car was terrible, we survived, got muscled a bit and the car ended up with bent steering, I was told to survive and bring it home, it’s a long year, stay strong and we want to be somewhere in the mix come Sydney,” said Dontas.
Wayne Wakefield almost missed out on the Podium, tying with Kris “Killa” Walton who was penalised with a 5 second penalty for Kerb hoping on the final lap of the race and dropping him from 3rd to 5th handing Wakefield second for the Round. Walton set the fastest lap in Race 3.
“It’s been a long time coming, I had a pretty frustrating year last year so it’s great to be back, I almost didn’t make it, we only put our deal together two weeks ago so thanks to Tyrepower for getting on board as well as Shot Energy, Norris Motor Group and Isuzu.
"We’re lucky to be here and come away with a result like this. I’m looking forward to Perth, it really suits my driving style so I hope we can keep stepping up on the podium,” said Wakefield.
Sieders started on Pole in his Mine Site Fencing Australia Ford alongside Wayne Wakefield with Nathan Pretty behind him in 4th position and teammate Craig Dontas in 3rd. Dontas had a great start however Pretty and Jesse Dixon both stalled on the grid.
“I was going to run gunna for him (teammate Dontas), that was the plan until I blew a sneaker at the start line, I decided to let them all go around, I thought it would be a lot easier to come from the back but it didn’t turn out that way. What started off looking like a good weekend has turned into an absolute shocker, but I’ve fought back from a bigger point deficit last year so I’m not too worried,” said Pretty.
Pretty could only manage a 16th place finish for the Race. Miedecke did well to come from seventh on the grid, and bring his iSeek/ Wakeup Racing Holden home in 3rd overall for the race, ahead of West Aussie Rhys McNally.
Ryal Harris was lucky to recover his All Purpose Pest Control Ford after tapping the wall at Turn 8 and finished the final race in 7th, after starting 15th on the grid. Grant Johnson came home in 8th ahead of Just Car Insurance driver Elliot Barbour in 9th. Kim “The Assassin” Jane closed out the top ten in his Bob Jane T-Marts Holden.
Peter Burnitt had a wild ride at Turn 1 after a tyre deflated, sliding over the chicane and into the wall on lap 6. He retired after the incident suffering extensive damage. John Wood and George Elliot both failed to finish after hitting the wall, while Ben Dunn continued to have car issues, this time a flat tyre.
Andrew Fisher walked away with the V8 Utes Masters Award, and Jeremy Gray the ARMOR ALL Best Presented Award in his IXL Ford.
Adrian Cottrell was the highest placed Rookie this round finishing in 17th overall, and Adam Marjoram walked away with the Hard Charger Award for passing 12 Utes in Race 2.Sieders now leads the ARMOR ALL Driver’s Championship by 17 points from Craig Dontas and Wakefield.
Catch all the V8 Ute action from the Clipsal 500 next Saturday from 2pm (Check Local Guides) on 7Mate. The V8 Utes will be back on track in Perth 16 – 18 May for Round 2 of the Australian V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by HAWKEI.
See below top ten results from Race 3
1 8 Mine Site Fencing Australia David Sieders Ford Falcon FG 1:36.48692 13 Bacardi OakHeart/Tyrepower/Shot Energy Wayne Wakefield Ford Falcon FG 1:36.76303 88 iSeek Racing/Wake Up George Miedecke Holden Commodore VE 1:36.91664 26 STRATCO Racing Rhys McNally Holden Commodore VE 1:36.92675 68 Rentco Transport Equipment Kris Walton Ford Falcon FG 1:35.7960*6 22 Thirsty Camel Bottleshops Craig Dontas Holden Commodore VE 1:37.33907 1 All Purpose Pest Racing Ryal Harris Ford Falcon FG 1:36.38438 47 Boiler Tronics/Engine Master Grant Johnson Ford Falcon FG 1:37.89069 57 Just Car Insurance Elliot Barbour Holden Commodore VE 1:38.165510 27 Bob Jane T-Marts/Altenzo Tyres Kim Jane Holden Commodore VE 1:38.0227
