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Harris, Hansford share Bathurst TCM thrillers
Ryal Harris and Ryan Hansford have shared a pair of Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters thrillers at Mount Panorama in a day that produced some of the best racing the series has ever seen.
The pair split the Sunday race wins at Mount Panorama, though it was Harris who came through to record his second career round victory aboard the EFS Racing Chevrolet Camaro.
Marcus Zukanovic finished second overall by virtue of a trio of podium finishes in the three races, while John Bowe completed the podium thanks to sheer consistency amidst a remarkable series of races that saw positions changing lap by lap.
Race two saw Harris defeat Zukanovic in a last-lap thriller as the pair duelled for the lead.
The XD Falcon tried to sail around the outside of the Camaro at Griffins Bend on the last lap but was unable to complete the move, Harris hanging on to record his second straight victory. Second represented Zukanovic’s best non-Trophy Race result while John Bowe was third – elevated to the final step on the podium when Steven Johnson’s Falcon was excluded for finishing the race underweight.
Further back, Hansford and Adam Garwood scythed their way through the field; both starting from the back after issues in race one – the duo ending up fifth and sixth, respectively.
The final race was an out-and-out thriller with three different race leaders across the seven laps.
Harris led early, before Zukanovic charged his way past on the third lap to take the lead.
A charging Hansford had caught the leading group and also moved up the order, Harris relegated to third by his teammate on the same lap.
They wouldn’t stay there for long, however, the pair charging past Zukanovic with three laps to go as they battled for the lead; brief contact between the pair at the Chase damaging the front corner of the Torana.
It didn’t stop Hansford, however, the Queenslander pulling away on the final lap to win his fourth TCM race, with Harris’ second enough to secure the round. Zukanovic finished third, proving that his Falcon is now a regular outright contender in each race.
John Bowe was a consistent fourth while Andrew Fisher’s fifth was his best result of the year.
Jim Pollicina, Cameron Mason, Jeremy Gray, Mark King and Cameron Tilley completed the top-10.
Key contenders Steven Johnson and Adam Garwood both struck issues: Johnson with a right-front puncture and Garwood a mechanical issue that sent him to pit lane on lap five – the young Tasmanian having charged into the leading battle at the time.
Bathurst marked the second of six rounds scheduled for this year’s Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters.
Five-time champion John Bowe now leads the standings with 304 points, Ryan Hansford moving to second (294) and Marcus Zukanovic (287) to third.
Cameron Tilley, Steven Johnson and former Round 1 co-leader Adam Garwood round out the top six in the standings.
The next round of the TCM series will see the championship return to Sydney Motorsport Park in New South Wales on May 1-2.
Race 2 Results
| Pos | Car | Competitor/Team | Driver | Vehicle Cap | CL | Laps | Race Time |
| 1 | 58 | EFS 4X4 Accessories | Ryal Harris | Chevrolet Camaro SS | PM | 7 | 16:12.0585 |
| 2 | 71 | Action Motor Industries | Marcus Zukanovic | Ford Falcon XD | PM | 7 | 16:13.0988 |
| 3 | 18 | PAYNTER DIXON / Payce | John Bowe | Holden Torana SL/R 5 | PM | 7 | 16:16.4093 |
| 4 | 60 | Anglomoil Superior Lubricants | Cameron Tilley | Valiant Pacer | PA | 7 | 16:17.1963 |
| 5 | 6 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford | Holden Torana A9X | PA | 7 | 16:30.2193 |
| 6 | 85 | Whiteline Racing | Adam Garwood | Chevrolet Camaro RS | PM | 7 | 16:31.7702 |
| 7 | 9 | Jesus Racing | Andrew Fisher | Ford Falcon XY GT HO | PA | 7 | 16:36.2583 |
| 8 | 7 | MoCOMM Motorsport Comms | Jim Pollicina | Holden Torana A9X | PM | 7 | 16:37.7496 |
| 9 | 95 | Whiteline Racing | Mark King | Chevrolet Camaro SS | PM | 7 | 16:43.0349 |
| 10 | 33 | Toronto Hotel | Cameron Mason | Ford Mustang Trans A | PA | 7 | 16:43.0433 |
| 11 | 88 | TIFS Third Party Logistics | Tony Karanfilovski | Ford Mustang Trans A | PA | 7 | 16:44.0299 |
| 12 | 29 | Gulf Oil | Jamie Tilley | Ford Mustang Coupe | PA | 7 | 16:45.2004 |
| 13 | 67 | Bilstein/JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray | Ford Capri Perana | PA | 7 | 16:46.0662 |
| 14 | 74 | Lyndways Builders | Wayne Mercer | Ford Falcon XY GT HO | PA | 7 | 17:14.6264 |
| 15 | 75 | McGill Motorsport | Aaron McGill | Ford Falcon XW GT | PA | 7 | 17:15.0263 |
| 16 | 12 | Lighthouse Hotel | Peter Burnitt | Holden Torana A9X | PS | 7 | 17:19.9713 |
| DSQ | 17 | Full Throttle Custom Garages | Steve Johnson | Ford XD Falcon | PM |
Race 3 Results
| Pos | Car | Competitor/Team | Driver | Vehicle Cap | CL | Laps | Race Time |
| 1 | 6 | Multispares Racing | Ryan Hansford | Holden Torana A9X | PA | 7 | 16:24.8141 |
| 2 | 58 | EFS 4X4 Accessories | Ryal Harris | Chevrolet Camaro SS | PM | 7 | 16:26.6750 |
| 3 | 71 | Action Motor Industries | Marcus Zukanovic | Ford Falcon XD | PM | 7 | 16:29.1512 |
| 4 | 18 | PAYNTER DIXON / Payce | John Bowe | Holden Torana SL/R 5 | PM | 7 | 16:29.5774 |
| 5 | 9 | Jesus Racing | Andrew Fisher | Ford Falcon XY GT HO | PA | 7 | 16:42.6721 |
| 6 | 7 | MoCOMM Motorsport Comms | Jim Pollicina | Holden Torana A9X | PM | 7 | 16:44.9947 |
| 7 | 33 | Toronto Hotel | Cameron Mason | Ford Mustang Trans A | PA | 7 | 16:45.2316 |
| 8 | 67 | Bilstein/JMG Racing | Jeremy Gray | Ford Capri Perana | PA | 7 | 16:53.4459 |
| 9 | 95 | Whiteline Racing | Mark King | Chevrolet Camaro SS | PM | 7 | 17:01.5193 |
| 10 | 60 | Anglomoil Superior Lubricants | Cameron Tilley | Valiant Pacer | PA | 7 | 17:26.2230 |
| 11 | 88 | TIFS Third Party Logistics | Tony Karanfilovski | Ford Mustang Trans A | PA | 7 | 17:33.5429 |
| 12 | 12 | Lighthouse Hotel | Peter Burnitt | Holden Torana A9X | PS | 7 | 17:34.8412 |
| 13 | 74 | Lyndways Builders | Wayne Mercer | Ford Falcon XY GT HO | PA | 7 | 17:50.3546 |
| 14 | 75 | McGill Motorsport | Aaron McGill | Ford Falcon XW GT | PA | 7 | 17:50.4170 |
| 15 | 29 | Gulf Oil | Jamie Tilley | Ford Mustang Coupe | PA | 7 | 17:51.7792 |
| 16 | 17 | Full Throttle Custom Garages | Steve Johnson | Ford XD Falcon | PM | 6 | 16:36.3749 |
| DNF | 85 | Whiteline Racing | Adam Garwood | Chevrolet Camaro RS | PM | 5 | 11:53.0468 |