07-05-2009 Round 2 SA State Circuit Racing Championships

Whilst the eyes of most of the motor racing population was on Winton Raceway, Mallala Motorsport Park hosted Round 2 of the State Championships. A field of 22 cars entered the round and was ready to put on a great show for the assembled crowd.

Qualifying saw Susan Quigley in her Stinger end up upside down at the Northern Hairpin after a coming together with a gaggle of other cars.  Whilst Susan would take no further part in Saturday's racing, she would be back during the weekend.  cameron Waters in his first round at Mallala put his Jacer on pole from regular front-runner Scott Blake, Morgan Mutch in the Spectre and Asher Johnston in his GAC.  The 1200 class was headed by Rhys Newman in the former Paul Sharman Spectre, Wes Young's Kestrel, Phil Wilkes' Spectre and Rob Surman in his Stag.

Race one on Saturday got underway with a great start from Scott Blake, who lead the field into turn one followed closely by Waters, Mutch, Johnson and Gavin Mailes.  A great dice between them would leave them in that order come the chequered flag.  With great racing all the way up and down the field the 1200 class finally went to Wes Young after a brilliant tussle with young gun Rhys Newman, Phil Wilkes & Jaimie Tilbrook's Spectres and Neil Richardson who fought his way from rear of grid to finish fifth in class.

Race two started the same as the previous race with Blake getting a great start. A brilliant dice between the front runners with the minor placings changing multiple times each lap.  When the flag finally fell after 6 laps, again Blake headed home Waters, Johnston, Mutch and Gemma Deakin just holding on to take fifth.  The racing was just as intense in the 1200's with Rhys Newman holding off, Wilkes, Young, Rob Surman and Neil Richardson.

Race three saw the return of Susan Quigley to the start grid and also the first faltering moment for future star Cameron Waters.  Blake this time did not get a good start and the field blew by as he struggled to find a gear.  Asher Johnston managed to hold off a hard charging Morgan Mutch and provided a great spectacle for the Sunday crowd.  Blake charged back through the field to take third just from Deakin and Mailes.  The racing in the 1200's was close as Wilkes took the win from Young, Richardson, Newman and Surman.

Race four saw Waters start from rear of grid and pick off almost the entire field to finish third.  Johnston made another good start to lead Mutch and Deakin into turn one.  The real action was in the 1200's where Wes Young and Neil Richardson showed the younger guys just how to get around Mallala and challenged some of the 1600's for overall positions.  The lead in the 1200's changed constantly until Young took the flag from Richardson, Newman, Surman and Wilkes.  Upfront it was Asher Johnston leading home Morgan Mutch, a hard charging Cameron Waters, Gemma Deakin then Scott Blake.

The final race of the weekend saw a tangle between Phil Wilkes and Rhett Payne in turn one which ended Paynes race and put a big dent in the hopes of Wilkes.  Upfront Waters got the jump on Johnston and managed to hold him off to take his first race win at his first round at Mallala.  Blake managed to take third over Morgan Mutch with another solid result for Gemma Deakin.  Neil Richardson diced hard with Rhys Newman and Wes Young to take the race win.  Phil Wilkes recovered to take fourth from Dylan Richter.

Next round will be at the Shannons Nationals round at Mallala June 5th-7th.  Stay tuned for more great action from South Australia.

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