02/11/2011

ROUND SIX of the 2011 V8 Commodore Cup presented by Western General Bodyworks will, quite literally, be a winner take all finale’ between Adam Beechey and Matthew Hayes.

Just one point splits the pair ahead of this weekends’ three races at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, San Marco Italian Restaurant-sponsored Hayes the aggressor coming off the back of his first round victory at Sandown recently and his first race win a round before that.

The net result is that he sits a scant one point behind the defending champion, Adam Beechey.

Beechey’s incredible streak of ten consecutive round podiums ended at Sandown – the same weekend Hayes won – but the speedy Tasmanian speedway ace turned-road racer will look to win back-to-back Commodore Cup titles for his Donut King team after another strong season.

The battling pair has ebbed and flowed up the leader board this season, Beechey assuming the championship lead following round three where he scored a sensational repeat victory at Winton's Ashley Cooper Memorial trophy race.

Hayes was on the back foot after a quick yet inconsistent start to the year where penalties cost him points – but he rebounded brilliantly at Eastern Creek to take his first race win and finish second to Beechey overall on a countback.

At Sandown he won, superbly, whilst Beechey missed the podium for the first time in more than a year - thus creating the one-point buffer between the pair ahead of the sixth and final round of the season, to be held with the Shannons Nationals this weekend.

Beechey is the only driver to win more than one round this year however Hayes has more race wins to his credit, having taken the flag on four occasions this year, compared to Beechey’s two.

And whilst it will take a big effort, the championship fight may not just be between the two main protagonists.

One point may separate Hayes and Beechey but there are 150 up for grabs across the three races this weekend. One non-finish from either of those two could easily bring one of three other drivers into the equation.

Third-placed Marcus Zukanovic has his Action Racing Commodore handily placed, some 44 points off the championship lead and within one race victory of the top spot. A further 25 points back sits Ross McGregor, whose Bathurst round victory and Winton podium – with Drew Russell – has him in the hunt.

Fifth-placed Tony Bates has his newly-liveried Commodore a further 18 points down the road. Sitting sixth, Chris Stevenson also remains in mathematical contention, though a full 114 points behind Beechey.

The final round of the 2011 season should showcase everything good about Commodore Cup as the series returns to the fast and flowing Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit for the first time in several seasons. A strong 17-car field has entered for the round, with several drivers looking to end their promising seasons strongly.

Stevenson (Aerial Motors Racing) and Danny Buzadzic (Western General Bodyworks) both had career-best results at Sandown in September and will look to continue the form that saw them both finish on the outright podium in the previous round.

Anthony Tancredi returns to join Brother Michael in a two-car Top Shelf Fruits team, Andrew Parker returns for the first time this season and Jason Domaschenz – after two crashes at Bathurst badly damaged his car – makes a welcome return.

Western General Bodyworks will present round six of the V8 Commodore Cup this weekend at Phillip Island, the series set to tackle three races on Sunday with the final round of the 2011 Shannons Nationals.

The races will be broadcast live on the internet via www.itvlive.com.au

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