07/03/2010

Quick race lap times, a couple of shunts and mechanical gremlins were all part of race 1 for the Commodore Cup at Wakefield Park. Young gun Josh Hughes went out early with a gearbox failure, Allan Hill also had mechanical issues late in the race, with the clutch failing, however the race talking point was close contacts between competitors.

Tony Bates, after some average qualifying times by his own standard, was pushing hard and was up as high as third but was turned around mid race, eventually finishing ninth. Adam Lloyd was collected by newcomer Garth Duffy after some on the edge racing had Duffy bringing his car back under control, which unfortunately lead his car into the side of Lloyd. There were some raised eyebrows after he regained track position. He was at the head of the field but last on the time sheets with a sensational battle between Jason Domaschenz and Scott Andrews unfolding, courtesy of the pace car being called after Hughes went off at turn two. Coming out of the final turn after coming back into the race, Lloyd kept racing position, frustrating Domaschenz. Jason eventually found race space to get through and the battle between he and Andrews recommenced.

Andrews looked to have the goods at the last gasp but came in a little hot at turn two, baulking himself and losing momentum, allowing Domaschenz to skip away to the win.

The other new entrant to the Commodore Cup, Adam Beechey drove sensationally well, with Beechey taking a hard won third

Battle scars adorned the Southern Star Windows entry of Ross McGregor, with a late brake move from Axent Racing’s Geoff Fontaine (finishing sixth) on the final lap at the final turn, leading to impact between McGregor and Chick, finishing just shy of Nick Parker who placed fourth. The squeeze was such that Fontaine’s normally immaculate vehicle was sporting scars on both sides and front and rear. Daniel Orr started from ninth on the grid to finish eighth with Matt Chick, Chris Stevenson (with brake issues from qualifying coming back to stymie his charge), Brian Bancroft and Lloyd rounding out the field.

The action in race 1 certainly promises fireworks in race 2.

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