News
Golding Dominates Race 1 as the Title Gap Closes
James Golding’s sweep of the penultimate round of the Trico Trans Am Series at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International has continued with a dominant victory in Race 1 at Mount Panorama.
The CTE Custom Transport Engineering Mustang pilot was fastest in yesterday’s sole practice session, won the $1000 Trico Pole Award and then dominated from start to finish to win today’s opening race.
Golding crossed the line 2.3-seconds clear of former series champion Nathan Herne to claim his fourth Trico Trans Am Series race win of the 2024 season.
“GRM have done a fantastic job with the car and rolled it out of the truck, (there was) just one practice (session) so we had to get it right,” he said post-race.
“I just wanted to keep going today, hopefully we can get another win in the last race.”
Reigning Trico Trans Am Series Champ James Moffat had a race-long battle with current points leader Todd Hazelwood to hang on for third place in the #34 Team Valvoline GRM Mustang.
Moffat made a storming start from seventh on the grid, passing a handful of cars on the run to Hell Corner and moving into third place on the run-up Mountain Straight on the opening lap.
He and Hazelwood engaged in some heavy hand-to-hand combat all race. The latter launched a move at the Chase with 13 minutes of racing remaining though couldn’t muscle by.
“I wasn’t going to make it easy for him,” said Moffat post-race.
“I certainly wasn’t going to put the blinker on and wave him through. We didn’t have enough (speed) for Nathan and Jimmy.
“Jimmy, I think, was just playing with everyone to be honest.”
Hazelwood entered the round 32 points in front of Moffat, but the Race 1 result means he will carry a 28–point lead into the final race this afternoon.
Jordan Boys came home fifth in today’s opening race from Tim Brook, Edan Thornburrow, Nash Morris, Elliott Cleary and Tom Davies.
Josh Thomas finished 12th overall and won the Pro Am category from Mark Bailey and Mark Crutcher.
The race featured one Safety Car period after Pro Am racer John Holinger crashed on the approach to McPhillamy Park on lap two.
The second and final race for this weekend’s Trans Am round will start at 3.10pm AEDT.
Coverage of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International is streaming on 7+ today, Saturday, from 11.45am to 6pm AEDT and on Sunday from 10am to 5.15pm AEDT.
Free to air coverage will air today, Saturday, on 7mate from 2pm to 4pm AEDT (including Race 2 of Trans Am) and on Sunday on 7two from 2pm to 4pm AEDT.