News
Race 3 ends short, Hansford claims Townsville round
The third and final race of the Gulf Western Oils Touring Car Masters third round finished behind the safety car after a two-car accident at turn three.
Series leader John Bowe in his Rare Spares Holden Torana A9X won the start from the outside of the front row and was in the lead when the race was called, ahead of Ryan Hansford (Multispares Torana) and Andrew Fisher (Jesus Racing Torana).
Ultimately, the race was declared a non-event on account of less than half the mandated race distance being completed.
The accident that brought about the premature end involved Michael Almond and Cameron Tilley at turn three on the third lap.
Almond’s Whiteline Racing Chev Camaro lost braking and hit the back of Tilley’s Anglomoil Valiant Pacer, spearing it backwards in the tyre wall.
Both cars were badly damaged with both drivers taken to the circuit medical centre for precautionary checks.
Bowe’s start was perfect, so too George Miedecke in the other Whiteline Camaro while pole man Hansford was slow away and third into turn two, ahead of Almond and Fisher.
By the time they exited the next corner, Hansford was second ahead of Fisher, Miedecke, Tilley and Almond.
When the race was flagged Danny Buzadzic (Torana), a DNF earlier in race two, had worked his way to seventh, and then fifth, after he started at the rear of the field. Then followed Cameron McConville (Camaro), Ben Dunn (Chev Monza), Jim Pollicina (Torana), Paul Freestone (Camaro), Peter Burnitt (Torana), Leo Tobin (Mustang) and Warren Trewin (Holden Monaro HQ).
The results left Ryan Hansford (Pro), Andrew Fisher (Pro-Am) and Pete Burnitt (Pro Sports) as the round winners in Townsville.
A full round report will follow.