CAMS Offices (Sports House) Cnr. Caxton & Castlemaine Streets, Milton Q 4064. Meeting Start - 7.45pm approx. Pre Meeting Drinkies and Feed up at the Paddo Tavern as usual.
Matt Kingsley and Lee Castle led the Queensland charge as the Shannons Nationals hit Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick, while Shawn Jamieson wrapped up the Saloon Car title.
Queensland drivers featured across seven classes in Round Seven of the 2009 Shannons Nationals, the circuit’s maiden national-level race meeting.
Kingsley continued his rampant form in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, taking a fourth-straight round win to extend his championship lead with one round remaining.
The Gold Coast driver scored dominant wins in two of the three races, while title rival Sven Burchartz ensured the battle will go to Sandown in November with a fourth and two third-place finishes.
Brisbane’s Roger Lago had his best weekend in the class, beating Kingsley to the chequered flag in Race Two and topping the 997 Trophy Class in each race.
“It’s been an awesome weekend,” Kingsley said.
“Our goal was to leave here with a comfortable margin to take to the final round and we’re pleased with how it worked out.
“The car was great, we pushed really hard all weekend and the results went our way.”
Four-wheel drive pilots Lee Castle and Rod Salmon fought it out in Round Three of the Boylan Traffic Solutions Australian Manufacturers Championship.
Gold Coast resident Castle (Subaru WRX STi) won all three races, but not before the pair traded paint in the opening two starts, with a Race Two clash dropping Salmon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) to eighth.
Championship leader Garry Holt (BMW 335i) led the final, reverse grid race, before limping to eighth with a mechanical problem.
The win moves Castle from fourth to second in the points, while Jake Camilleri (Mazda 3 MPS) made it a 1-2 for Queensland drivers for the round.
“It was a hard-fought weekend,” Castle said.
“We had some great battles with Rod in the first two races and it was unfortunate for Garry to have his problems in the last race.
“This was our home round, so it’s great to get the win for Wilson Brothers Racing; we’re looking forward to the rest of the year.”
While Queenslander Kris Walton won all three races in Round Five of the Kumho Tyres Australian Saloon Car Series, South Australian Shawn Jamieson had the biggest smile.
With second-place finishes behind Walton, Jamieson secured the 2009 title with two rounds to spare, while South African-born driver Grant Gatland was a revelation, finishing third for the weekend on his national debut
“I really enjoyed the racing this weekend and the battle against the locals,” Jamieson said.
“Wrapping up the championship is fantastic, it means we can go out and really enjoy the last two rounds of the year at Oran Park and Sandown without any pressure.”
Arthur Magaitis (Lotus Elise) went solo and emerged victorious in a dramatic CUE Production Sports 1 Hour race.
Sydney brothers David and Tim Mackie led by two laps before retiring with driveline problems, handing the lead to the Lotus of Geoff Morgan and Simon Hogg.
They slowed in the closing laps with mechanical issues of their own, with Magaitis taking the lead on the final lap and winning by 0.6 seconds.
Lowing Morgan Park’s existing Sports Sedan lap record, Trent Young dominated a strong field in the Kerrick Queensland Sports Sedan races, taking his Mazda RX7 to victory in all four races.
Also grabbing four wins from four starts, Warren McIlveen won his third Rockpress Pacific Superkart Challenge crown, while Stewart Bell and David McAdam completed the podium.
Rod Dawson and Melissa Thompson fought for the spoils in the Holden Gemini Challenge, with Dawson collecting three wins and Thompson two in the closely contested races.
This weekend’s racing from Morgan Park will be shown on SBS One’s Speedweek next Sunday, 16 August, from 1pm.
From a first-time event to a last-time event, Round Eight of the Shannons Nationals will be held at Oran Park Raceway on 29-30 August.
Seven categories will take part in the iconic Sydney circuit’s last national-level race meeting.
