Beric Lynton has claimed two Jacuzzi Spas Australian Production Car outright and class A1 wins from two races at Sandown Raceway today in the #23 Bruce Lynton Jaguar/Landrover BMWM3, while class battles raged behind him.
“I had the worst start ever in race two -I am still learning how to start this thing as it is an auto, and I went into turn one fourth or fifth.” said Bruce.
We worked our way through and we were having a good dice with Grant (Sherrin) until he touched the ripple strip at turn four and went into the wall.
“I really pushed on until we knew where we were after all the pit stops, and then just maintained the gap. We are confident for tomorrow if it is dry, but saying that it is now raining this afternoon, this is Melbourne so who knows what we are going to get! It rained in the second race between 1 and 4 and down the straight but not enough to help the Evos. It was just enough to make it greasy but not enough with hot tyres to slow us down too much. If it rains we are going to be nowhere, so I hoping it dries up again tomorrow, we will see what happens.”
Joining Lynton in taking two victories from two races were the B1, C, D and E class winners – the #111 FEDC Contracting Ford Falcon GT of Mick Benton and Hadrian Morrall, the #17 Aubin Brothers Racing Renault Megane of brothers Kyle and Blake Aubin, the #91 Track School/New Image Kitchen Honda Integra Type R of Daniel Smith and the #921 Madaz/Beers R Us Mazda SP 2.5 of Andrew McMaster and David Noble (respectively).
Clinching individual class race wins today were the #90 Boss Surveillance Mercedes C63 of Karl Begg and Justin Anthony (A2 race one), the #2 Angry Cactus Racing/Massell Holden HSV Clubsport of Mark Caine (A2 race two), the #69 S BAC/Moore Stephens Holden SSV CL of Joe Krinelos (B2 race one), and the #8 G and K Refrigeration Holden Commodore SSV Redline of Geoff Kite (B2 race two).
While the above racers and more were celebrating their results today, for some it wasn’t such a great day out at the race track. A number will have long nights of work ahead if they are to make a return tomorrow.
For the #1 Sherrin Rentals BMWM4, elation following a very impressive and lap record setting effort by Iain Sherrin in race one to finish 2nd after starting 24th on the grid was short-lived when race two saw the entry incur significant front end damage after going into the wall at turn four with Grant Sherrin at the wheel. The team will be working late into the night replacing the front bar, radiator and associated parts to make a return to racing tomorrow. Before the incident, both driver and car were on-song with Grant re-setting Iain’s new lap record to see the team claim two records from two races.
Earlier in the day, the #21 Aussie Wide Builders Ford Falcon driven by George Karadimas made heavy contact with the wall in race one on the way to Dandenong Corner. Coolant had got under the tyres of the brand-new car following contact to the rear of another car a few laps before.
The Karadimis team will be working late into the night to try and repair the damage but Nick Karadimas, George’s father, said he was confident that the car would be back on track carrying the In Pit Lane logo for tomorrow’s race.
In the same race, the #7 MoComm Motorsport Communications Lotus Exige found itself stranded at turn one with an expired engine after a missed gear. That car, which had lead the first portion of the race, will receive a new engine from the withdrawn #10 Simply Sports Car Lotus Exige entry overnight.
While there was plenty of drama early, there was also plenty of triumph. Aside from our race winners, our top qualifiers were also honoured thanks to a new-for-2018 Hogs Breath Café Pole Position Award. Between races one and two today, Rick Bates (#83 Pro-Duct Motorsport Mitsubishi Evo X – outright and A1), Mark Caine (#2 Angry Cactus Racing/Massel Hodlen HSV Clubsport – A2), Dominic Martens (#50 Volkswagen Golf R Gt – B1), Blake Aubin (#17 Aubin Brothers Racing Renault Megane – C), Daniel Smith (#91 Track School/New Image Kitchens Honda Integra Type R – D), Joe Krinelos (#69 BAC/Moore Stephens Holden SSV CL – B2) and Andrew McMaster (#921 Madaz/Beers R Us Mazda SP 2.5 – E) were all presented with Hogs Breath Café vouchers for their top qualifying efforts of Friday.
Races three and four for round one of the 2018 Jacuzzi Spas Australian Production Cars will be held tomorrow, Sunday May 13, at 11.30am and 3.45pm respectively.
A free online live stream will broadcast all of the racing action on Sunday via www.thenationals.com.au
