Round 2, Eastern Creek Results

FERRARI driver Mark Noske has had the lead in the Century Batteries GTP Nations Cup handed back to him after Lamborghini rival Paul Stokell was excluded from the results of a second-round race at Sydney's Eastern Creek circuit.

Stokell finished first in two races yesterday to head the pointscore for the Meguiars Top Marques Drivers Championship, but last night stewards took away the second victory after finding the young Melbourne ace guilty of exceeding an engine rev limit on his car.

The decision returned Stokell to third place on the ladder, with Porsche 911 GT3 driver Jim Richards moving back up to second and Noske up to first in his Ferrari F360 Modena.

Stokell said today he had not intended to over-rev his Italian coupe's engine during a battle with Noske and Richards and felt the stewards' penalty of exclusion was harsh.

However, he would not appeal the decision, he said.

"I'm afraid I'm only human, but there was really no performance gain in what happened.

"It's cost us dearly. It's going to take a lot to peg back the points gap," Stokell said.

Going into round three in Canberra on 9-11 June, Noske and Stokell each have two race wins to their credit.

However, they face an improving challenge from several competitors, including the Porsches of Richards and Peter Fitzgerald and the Dodge Viper coupe of Geoff Morgan.

CENTURY BATTERIES GTP NATIONS CUP - Rd 2, Eastern Creek, NSW

<pre> RESULTS:

Race 1      
1.  Paul Stokell  (Lamborghini Diablo SVR) 
2.  Mark Noske (Ferrari F360 Modena)  
3.  Jim Richards (Porsche 911 GT3)  
4.  Peter Fitzgerald (Porsche 911 GT3)  
5.  Peter Bradbury  (Porsche 911 GT3)  
6.  Steve Webb (Porsche 911 GT3)  

Race 2 (revised) 1. Mark Noske (Ferrari F360 Modena) 2. Jim Richards (Porsche 911 GT3) 3. Peter Fitzgerald (Porsche 911 GT3) 4. Peter Bradbury (Porsche 911 GT3) 5. Geoff Morgan (Dodge Viper ACR) 6. Darren Palmer (Ferrari F360 Modena)

MEGUIAR'S TOP MARQUES DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP (revised): 1. Mark Noske 53 2. Jim Richards 47 3. Paul Stokell 38 4. Peter Fitzgerald 26 5. Peter Bradbury 21 6. Steve Webb 20