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TEENAGE ROOKIE TAKES OPENING KUMHO SERIES
“I thought the race was over at the start when the clutch went to the floor said Hunter.
“But then it recovered and I had the speed to pick them off one by one.
“The result is definitely unexpected but its a result were really happy with. Its been an exceptional weekend.
“Ill have to get my Dad to drive me home tonight I have to wait another two months before I can get my P plates!
Hunter driving an ex-Ford Performance Racing Falcon for Fernandez Motorsport easily becomes the youngest-ever driver to win a Kumho Series round a feat also unmatched in V8 Supercar racing for someone so young.
He jumped away from pole position in todays opening eight-lapper sprinting clear to win by 8.3-seconds over Scott Loadsman and Jim Pollicina.
In the final 12-lapper Hunter overcame his slow start to again beat home the pair of local drivers; this time the margin 3.27s to Loadsman.
“Its a great start to the year and having young guys like Josh in the field gives us something to strive for said round runner-up Loadsman.
“This series is definitely becoming a launching pad for the young kids. There are now a lot of drivers under 25 so keeping them honest is all you can do.
Another young gun on debut Mackays Morgan Haber also impressed over the weekend.
Run by Matthew Whites MW Motorsport team the rookie qualified on the front row yesterday but was eliminated in a start line accident after he stalled on the grid.
Haber charged back through in Race 2 today from the rear of the grid to finish fourth. He backed it up with another fourth place in Race 3 to end up fourth overall for the round.
Aaron Tebbs ex-Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodore was fifth overall for the round from Michael Bartsch Matthew Hansen Nathan Garioch (making his first start for Sydney Star Racing) rookie Bobby Jane and Shane Hunt.
Former series champion Chris Smerdon ended up on the sidelines and did not start either of todays races. His title challenge hit a roadblock after an accident off the start line in Race 1 yesterday and his team did not have the required parts to get his ex-Stone Brothers Falcon back onto the circuit.
Television coverage of todays opening round of the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series will air on SBS Speedweek on Sunday March 25 with a stand-alone one-hour program to air on SPEED on Wednesday April 11.
The second round of the Kumho Series will be held at Mallala Motorsport Park in South Australia on April 14-15.
KUMHO TYRES V8 TOURING CAR SERIES
ROUND 1 EASTERN CREEK
ROUND RESULT
1. Josh Hunter Falcon BA 143 pts
2. Scott Loadsman Commodore VZ 123 pts
3. Jim Pollicina Commodore VZ 109 pts
4. Morgan Haber Falcon BA 68 pts
5. Aaron Tebb Commodore VZ 68 pts
6. Michael Bartsch Falcon BA 57 pts
7. Matt Hansen Commodore VZ 50 pts
8. Nathan Garioch Commodore VZ 50 pts
9. Bobby Jane Falcon BA 46 pts
10. Shane Hunt Falcon AU 42 pts
11. Mark Shepherd Falcon BA 38 pts
12. Shawn Jamieson Commodore VZ 37 pts
13. Dean Kovacevich Commodore VZ 33 pts
14. Maurice Pickering Falcon BA 32 pts
15. Justin Garioch Falcon BA 32 pts
16. Ian Yeing Commodore VZ 25 pts
17. Michael Hector Falcon BA 19 pts
18. Paul Pennisi Commodore VY 10 pts
19. Chris Smerdon Falcon BA 0 pts
Josh Hunter in action