Kim “The Assassin” Jane claimed Race 1 of Round 2 of the East Coast Bullbars Australian V8 Ute Racing Series today (Saturday, 2nd May) at the UBET Perth SuperSprint.
Steering his Bob Jane T-Marts Holden, Jane had a great start from Pole position taking the lead into the first corner ahead of David Sieders who secured a solid second spot. It was a top four battle pack, Jane convincingly holding off pressure from Sieders, Ryan Hansford and local Grant Johnson all the way to the chequered flag.
“Darwin last year was my last win but this is the first time in about three years that I’ve gone back to back with a Pole and a Race win, so it’s a great feeling,” said Jane.
Sieders retained second place, breaking Tony Longhursts’ 2013 lap record, in a new time of 1:07.1837 allowing Hansford and Johnson to battle it out for third. All Purpose Pest Racing’s, Johnson tried a move on Hansford every lap at Turn 1 but the Multispares Racer held him out to come home in third, Johnson contented with fourth.
“We had a few brake problems at the end of the race (overheating) and were just concentrating on conserving tyres, we had the tyres at the end but not the brakes, the car is a lot faster than we showed there and we would have had pace if we could get through but that’s what racing’s about and hopefully we can get through in the next one and get a good starting position for Race 3,” explained the lanky West Aussie, Johnson.
Fellow West Aussie, Adam Marjoram had a great drive to bring his Auto One Holden home in fifth, which sees him secure third place in the ARMOR ALL Drivers Championship.
“I had a strong Race One, we kept ourselves out of trouble, we had new tyres and were under the lap record, I’m feeling really confident going into Race two, It will be a tough race but hopefully I’ll pick off a few and move up the leader-board,” said Marjoram.
RYCO 24-7 and Transco MFG backed Gerard McLeod claimed sixth and held out two-time Champion Ryal Harris who moved up four spots to finish in seventh. West Aussie Rhys McNally brought his Stratco Holden home in eighth position ahead of iSeek and ees racer, George Miedecke, in ninth place.
Rookie and Bundaberg local, Mason Barbera rounded out the top ten and will start on Pole alongside veteran George Miedecke after Jane pulled out ball #10 for the inverted Race 2 today.
“I’ve been on Pole in New Zealand but that’s nothing compared to this, I’m nervous but excited at the same time, I know we have the pace to run up the front, I think we should be ok we just have to run our own race and make sure not to stuff up within myself, I need to keep calm and go for it,” said 17year old, Barbera.
Local stalwart Rick Gill won’t make it out for Race 2, he was sent to the Hospital as a precaution after suffering dizzy spells.
The V8 Utes will hit the track again for Race 2 when the top ten are inverted, this afternoon at 4:05pm, televised live on Fox Sports along with Race 3 tomorrow at 11:25am.
See below top ten results for Race 11 27 Bob Jane T-Marts / Altenzo Kim Jane Holden Commodore VE 1:07.1935r2 3 Mango Credit David Sieders Holden Commodore VE 1:07.1837R3 6 Multispares Racing Ryan Hansford Ford Falcon FG 1:07.2753r4 33 All Purpose Pest Control Grant Johnson Ford Falcon FG 1:07.2185r5 5 Auto One / Erebus Motorsport Adam Marjoram Holden Commodore VE 1:07.2930r6 50 McLeod Racing / RYCO 24-7 Gerard McLeod Holden Commodore VE 1:07.35257 58 Holiday For Life Ryal Harris Ford Falcon FG 1:07.63168 26 Stratco Racing Rhys McNally Holden Commodore VE 1:07.71389 35 iSeek Racing / ees.com George Miedecke Ford Falcon FG 1:07.666110 17 Peters Motorsport Mason Barbera Ford Falcon FG 1:08.0672
