Round One - 2023
6 Litre Results:
1st - Mark Spencer #44
2nd - Ian Palmer #42
3rd - Alwyn Bishop #48
5 Litre Results:
1st - John Prefontaine #21
2nd - Tricia Chant #35
3rd - Gareth Jones #66
Mark Spencer #44
Day One Highlights
And we’re back!
It was a big day of competition as we kicked off the 2023 season. The Australian Trans-Am family was in full force, and it was great to see them all back for another year. We had a newcomer, Warren Wadley, who took on the challenge in his No.9 Camaro. Unfortunately, some participants had to withdraw due to parts delays, but we are looking forward to some bigger and fields this year.
The action was non-stop, both on and off the track. In qualifying, Russell Wright showed everyone how it's done, setting the pace and securing pole position in his No.55 Mustang. Alwyn Bishop put up a good fight in his No.48 Duster but was over a second behind Wright's time. Sean English dominated the 5 Litre category, narrowly beating John Prefontaine, who was filling in for Ron that weekend.
Race One saw Wright leading from start to finish in his No.55 Mustang, followed by Bishop, Spencer, Shutle, and Fleming rounding out the top five. It was a tough return to the racing scene for John Prefontaine, who got disqualified after colliding with two other cars during the race. Palmer's No.42 Cuda was forced to retire after being involved in an incident with Prefontaine's No.21. Tricia Chant's No.35 Mustang suffered spark plug failure, reducing power and forcing her to retire. Jones in the No.66 struggled with a clutch issue that ultimately led to his retirement halfway through the race.
Race Two was a wild ride, with Wright's impressive run coming to an abrupt end due to a weekend-ending engine issue. Unfortunately, this left Wright stranded, and a safety car was required to recover him. The race ended under safety car conditions, with Alwyn Bishop taking the win in his No.48 Duster, after driving an excellent race throughout the day.
The action was far from over, and Sunday promised to be a massive day with three races to finish out Round One.
Day Two Highlights
Mark Spencer has taken the championship lead after a gripping Round One, with some incredible performances from the drivers.
Race Three saw some tough luck for Schulte and Bishop, who both suffered mechanical issues and had to drop out of the race. Meanwhile, Palmer in his No.42 Cuda dominated until the very end, when Spencer made a stunning move to snatch victory from him at the last turn. John Prefontaine took third place, with Bishop out of the running.
In Race Four, Palmer held strong again, but a mishap by the race staff led to a brief safety car interruption, which allowed Spencer to pass and take the win. However, after the race, the AASA stewards reviewed the footage and restored the victory to Palmer with Prefontaine taking third.
We have to give a shoutout to Warren Wadley, who's new to the Australian Trans-Am family. He's starting to get the hang of the cars, which are quite different from the TA2 he's been driving in recent years.
Race 5 was a wet one with rain starting as soon as the cars headed out to the track and only worsened as the race went on. Bishop made a triumphant return after two races with issues, and he put the pressure on Palmer. However, with the rain getting heavier, the safety car was called out for the last few laps. Palmer finished in first, followed by Bishop and Spencer. Prefontaine clocked in as the fastest 5 Litre car followed by Jones #66 and Chant #35.
What a fantastic start to the season, we can't wait to see what the rest of the year holds!
