Australia’s most prestigious Motor Racing Championships

Jun 22, 2012

KUMHO TYRES Australian V8 Touring Car Series leader Jim Pollicina slipped and slid his way around to top practice at a sopping Winton Motor Raceway today, ahead of the 60^th Shannons Nationals presented by Hi-Tec Oils round this weekend.

With constant rain and cold conditions, Pollicnia’s 1m32.52s set in practice two stood up as the quickest of the day, in front of returning former series winner Tony Evangelou and Nathan Garioch.

A series-record equalling 20 cars took to the track, down from an anticipated 21-car grid after Bruce Heinrich was forced to withdraw prior to the round.

Queenslander Morgan Haber was fourth in his Matthew White-run Falcon, ahead of Saloon Car champion Shawn Jaimeson, in fifth.

Other key contenders weren’t in their usual place in the pecking order; Bobby Jane finished the quickest of the three sessions in 14^th, one position ahead of Chris Smerdon, who in turn was just in front of round one winner Josh Hunter.

The Australian GT Championship – Protected by Sargent Security also took to the track today, ahead of their two, one-hour endurance races this weekend.

Kevin Weeks banked the quickest time of the day in his Supaloc Ford GT, but several were in close company throughout the day across several weather-interrupted sessions.

Carrera Cup frontrunner Johnny Reid is a last-minute addition to the field, replacing John Bowe in Peter Edwards’ Ferrari 458 GT3 and finished the third practice session in third place.

Australian Formula 3 Championship leader James Winslow also completed his first laps aboard Peter Conroy’s Audi R8, whilst Mark Eddy also made a return to the track after missing the most recent round at Phillip Island.

James Brock was sixth in the Drillpro Mosler – his replacement ride this weekend as his regular Erebus Racing Mercedes is repaired following it’s Phillip Island shunt.

Stephen Grove was fastest of the two Porsche Staff Solutions GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series sessions, Kane Rose and Michael Almond in close company.

Matthew Lovell topped the Dial Before you Dig Saloon Cars, Geoff Emery the only relatively dry Commodore Cup session and Allan Jarvis the Hi-Tec Oils Swift Racing Series practice.