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Hansford sweeps to first win of 2022 season in Townsville opener
Holden Toranas finished first, second and third in the first race of the Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters third round, on the streets of sunny Townsville.
Ryan Hansford took his qualifying form into the race and led all the way in his Multispares A9X and set a new lap record in the process. He also narrowed the points gap to series leader John Bowe who was second, 0.6 seconds adrift.
RESULTS: Round 3, Race 1 – Townsville
Third place went to Andrew Fisher in his best performance to date aboard the leased Jesus Racing A9X. His regular mount, the Ford Falcon XY GTHO is side-lined for development purposes.
At the start, Hansford was able to fend off George Miedecke (Whiteline Chev Camaro) and Bowe who was able to get by Miedecke on the second lap. Bowe closed on Hansford, but the latter had him covered to the chequered flag.
Fisher, who was fourth, withstood the early challenge from Danny Buzadzic (Western General Body Works) before he relegated Miedecke on lap five to grab a spot on the podium – his first since the 2019 season.
Buzadzic settled into fifth for the duration ahead of a near race-long dice between Michael Almond and Cameron McConville in their Chevrolet Camaros.
Ultimately, McConville passed Almond – who would end up eighth after he was also passed by Jim Pollicina (Mocomm Torana).
Behind Almond, it was Cameron Tilley (Valiant Pacer) in front of Tony Karanfilovski (Ford Mustang), Ben Dunn (Chev Monza) and Peter Burnitt (Torana). Leo Tobin (Mustang) was engrossed in a good battle with Warren Trewin who was able to get by.
But Tobin was able to hit back and secured 13th. Paul Freestone was 12th until he retired to the pits with a broken gearbox in his Camaro.
The Gulf Western Oils Touring Car Masters returns to the track at the NTI Townsville 500 for race two on Sunday morning at 8:00 am.
It will be shown live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.