Winton race summary 2005-05-01

AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING SERIES -- SMOKE, SUN AND SLIDING

On a perfect weekend for Motor Racing, the Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS) headed to Winton Motor Raceway in rural Victoria for the combined on track action of the Australian Truck Nationals and round three of the AMRS. Five categories competed at the tight and challenging circuit and attached is a complete wrap up from the weekend:

WINTON INTERMARQUE CUP FOR SPORTS CARS:

Firing on all cylinders this weekend has been the Winton Intermarque Cup which saw the Porsche GT 2 R of NSW David Stevens take out race one 11 seconds ahead of the Porsche GT 3 R of Mark Eddy who just held off Mort Fitzgerald with the rest of the field running close behind.

On of the more interesting cars at Winton was the Saker GT driven by Luke Youlden who set a class unofficial lap record of 1:26.0690. The Saker GT powered by the boxer power of a Subaru WRX had never been seen in competition in Victoria before and after it's dominate performance we hope to see it again.

Race Two was almost a repeat of Race One but Luke Youlden in the Saker GT finished second after electrical problems robbed him of an almost dominate win. Race Three saw close on track action but amazingly the results were almost a repeat of Race One with Stevens in front of Eddy with John Kaias finishing third, Simon Middleton in fourth and the legendary George Vidovic waving to the crowd as he stormed home in fifth.

Points: Stevens 60, Eddy, 56, Kaias 51, Middleton and Vidovic 45.

APORSCHAPART 944:

The aPorschaPart 944 Challenge provided some of the closest racing all weekend as Sam Abay, Brent and Kane Rose fighting many battles during the weekend for ultimate Winton honours with Abay taking the eventual honours ahead of Kane Rose and Brent Rose.

Race One saw Sam Abay skip well ahead of the field for a convincing win as Morris fought off O'Keefe for fifth with Kane taking the honours in the Rose household.

Race Two was made all the more interesting by the poor start by Abay but his eventual charge through the field to take out the race was a standout and the nose to tail accident of Patsiotis, O'Keefe and Comand opposite the William Adams CAT corporate platform earnt them a perfect 10 for spectacle from the crowd.

The final race of the day in the 944's was won by the dominate Abay with the two Rose's close behind. Keeping her foot into the accelerator all weekend it was Amber Anderson with one of the best spins of the day in a classic "Cole Trickle" manoeuvre. Always well presented, the aPorschaPart 944's are one of the best one make categories within Australia's shores.

Points were: Abay 60, Kane Rose 57, Brent Rose 54, Lange 50, O'Keefe 48, and Goddard 40.

IMPROVED PRODUCTION:

Improved Production (IP) Racing Association Victoria made its way back to Winton this weekend with some drivers having not raced at the challenging circuit for over three years.

The quality IP field was led by Mario Calgari in a dominate display of race craft as he took race one over Paul Rule and Tony Floreani. Rohan Ambrose was quick in the Mazda RX3 with a lap time of 1:36.9044 but was unable to convert it into a podium position. Race Two was a repeat of Race One but Gary McKay made a brilliant start off the line in his immaculate Holden LJ Torana XU1 prepared by GP Automotive to finish fourth.

Rohan Ambrose made up for his absence in Race Two with an electrifying win in Race Three as he ran all over Rule and Floreani over the 14 laps as Calgari in the usually reliable Mazda RX7 failed to finish.

But it was Graeme Bell with an 8th in Race One, 5th in Race Two and a 4th in Race Three that finished third overall for the weekend with 46 points nudging out McCashney on 45 points, with Floreani finished with 54 points just behind eventual weekend winner Rule with 57 points.

FORMULA VEE:

The Formula Vee's showed they were a force to be reckoned with as they made up for quantity with close and electrifying racing as Jason Kerr grabbed Race Two from Paul Sexton and Gavin Hendrick in his shiny new orange Gerbert.

Race Three was another winning repeat of Race Two but it was Race Four that saw Kerr finish just 0.3 secs ahead of Hendricks with Sexton another 0.4 behind. The crowd loved it, the officials were amazed by it and even the media centre was alight when the final race was won. Well done Formula Vee

Overall points went to Kerr with 80, Sexton finished with 75, Hendrick 72 and Frith with 69.

SUPER TRUCKS:

The Super Trucks and Light Trucks fought for position all day around the tight Winton layout but it was Rodney Crick who won three from three at the opening round of the Australian Super Truck Nationals with a dominate display of smoke and sliding as he obliterated the field.

Turn one and two were the favourites as during all races at least one of the Super Trucks completed a 360 degree pirouette to the delight of the crowd and if that wasn't enough, it was up to the light trucks to lay a sideways strip of rubber from corner to the old start/finish line.

Super Trucks racing has always been described as one of the most exciting forms of Motor Racing and this weekend did not disappoint as Bob Middleton put as much pressure on Crick and his tyres as he could, but ultimately he ran out of brakes and tyres and finished second in all three races.

But it was Crick, the five time champion who set the fastest ever lap record by a Super Truck of 1:45.7517 (only 4 seconds slower than the V8 Ute lap record) in the opening race that showed why he is considered the best of all time.

Colin Lovett in the Volvo was an unlucky participant in the opening corner display of when immovable objects meet, and came off second best in race two which produced a red flag, a race restart and the closest race of the weekend.

Jeff Mackin (36) finished first in the Light Truck category followed by Graham Spencer (30) with Stan Seton (24) a close third. In Super Trucks; Crick (36) ran away from Middleton (30) with Amoroso (18) in his Kenworth just ahead of Hewat (16).

THANK-YOU, THE CROWD:

The AMRS mission statement is simple: To facilitate, organise and promote National Motor Racing events to the highest standard with the welfare and investment of all competitors, event promoters and spectators in mind at all times, and by running at Winton this weekend with the trucks we believe we have done this.

Mick Ronke, Heather Wallace and all the team from Winton Motor Raceway have put together an entertaining weekend of diverse Motor Racing for a Sunday crowd of 4972 spectators. For all those of you who missed the truck racing -- come along to Oran Park in September as it must be seen to be believed (if you can see them through the black mist).

AND THE ROAD AHEAD:

Phillip Island is now only three weeks away on the 21st -- 22nd May and it will be the first time that seven AMRS categories join forces for a huge race meeting -- be sure not to miss it. With only a $20 entry fee for Saturday and Sunday and kids under 16 receiving free entry it has to be the best value National Motor Racing in Australia.

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