BIANTE TOURING CAR MASTERS

RACE REPORT

 

Round Eight – Phillip Island, Victoria.

 V8 Supercar Dunlop Grand Finale1-2 December 2007

 

 

Steve Mason wrapped up the inaugural BIANTE Touring Car Masters title after winning race two at a very warm Phillip Island last weekend. The `69 Chev Camaro driver from Newcastle, N.S.W. finished second to Bathurst great Jim Richards (guest starring in Tony Hunters `69 Camaro) in the opening race and then sealed the BIANTE TCM series win in race two.

 

 

Boss Mustang racer Gavin Bullas went in to the final round with a mathematical chance, but would have to rely on problems for Mason to have a realistic shot at the BIANTE title. Bullas had a massive excursion across (and over!) the track up near the hayshed when he fell off at high speed during first practice. Hard work from the crew saw him recover the next day to take his fifth pole position of the season. Mason would start alongside with Richards and Alastair MacLean (`68 Camaro) next. Chris Stillwell would line up for his first ever drive in the original RS1600 Escort his brother Michael drove in the 1972 ATCC.

 

 

Race One

Island first timer Brad Tilley (XY Falcon) stopped on the warm up lap after a faulty master cylinder caused the front brakes to lock on. A starting lights error (where the orange lights flashed on briefly after the reds went out) caused some confusion at the start, but the race continued with Bullas leading on the first part of the lap. Suddenly the Mustang slipped off at the hairpin and lost several places. Eddie Ablenica (Boss Mustang) also overcooked it while trying to go under Drew Marget (`69 Mustang) and MacLean at MG Corner, the rear end stepping out and swotting MacLean. Both continued with a rear tyre now rubbing on Abelnica`s damaged rear guard. After qualifying a promising fifth fastest, Garry Treloar (`68 Camaro) retired with engine dramas, as Richards applied huge pressure to race leader Mason. MacLean was on fire, setting fastest lap as he closed in on the first two.

 

 

Richards eventually squeezed past and into the lead as Bullas struggled to catch up after the gear shifter came off in his hand. Class B was in the control of Mick Wilson (Charger) after the demise of the Class B HQs of Greg East (clutch cable) and Tony Hunter (cracked block). Chasing Wilson for class honours were Chris Wilson (Torana), Richard Fairlam (HQ) and Rory O`Neill (Porsche), the trio involved in a great dice all race. Mason fought back near the end to harass Richards within sight of the flag, but could not find a way past the wily Kiwi after some incredibly close racing. MacLean was third followed by Marget and Walmsley, with Bullas finishing seventh behind Wilsons Charger.

Fastest lap: MacLean 1:50.3517 (lap two).

 

 

Race Two

MacLean missed the jump when the lights went out and lost a few places as Mason, Richards and Marget led the field away. Abelnica and Bullas battled hard for fourth while Walmsley had a big spin at the end of the front straight and for a while looked like he was returning to Tasmania via Bass Straight. Mick Wilson fell off moments later at Southern Loop but rejoined. Bullas made a late braking pass under Richards at the hairpin then repeated the move on Mason the next time around, to grab the lead.

 

 

Tilley and MacLean both went through on Marget who was battling understeer, as was Chris Wilson who had a sway bar dislodge. Fellow Class B boys Mick Wilson and O`Neill again had a great stoush behind class leader East. Bullas again fell off at the hairpin but rejoined in third and was soon back up with the first two cars.

 

 

On the last lap, Bullas struck back by going under Richards and then tried to run down Mason as the chequered flag came out. Mason had just enough in reserve to win, the first three cars all crossing the line within less than half a second of each other in an amazing finish.

Abelnica, Tilley and MacLean were next with East winning Class B.

Fastest lap: Bullas 1:49.8087 (lap two).

 

 

Race Three

Bullas led early, but this time Abelnica was all over his rear bumper after some set up changes seemed to be working. A big effort by Fairlam and crew to get the HQ back out after a head gasket issue in race two came to zero as the Kingswood retired after one lap. Mason, Richards and MacLean were all right behind Abelnica, as the lead bunch put on some of the best hard and fast dicing seen all year. Tilley`s brake dramas returned, forcing him to take avoiding action at the hairpin after the rears locked up as he shadowed Mason.

 

Former V8 Ute champion Rod Wilson was out after a front hub broke on the RCI Falcon. Mason diced hard with Richards until his tyres went away, and with the BIANTE title already sewn up Mason decided to put on a “slide show” wherever possible, delighting the fans with huge slip angles and lots of tyre smoke.

Incredibly Bullas went off again at the hairpin but rejoined with Abelnica now leading as MacLean found his Chev stuck in second gear. Richards feinted an inside move into turn 12 for a number of laps then finally made it stick to jump into the lead.

 

Bullas passed Abelnica for third up past the hay shed and then cranked the `Stang up for one last run at Richards. Bullas tried hard (setting fastest lap on the last lap!) but Gentleman Jim crossed the line first by around half a second, also wrapping up the final round win to boot. Abelnica was third (and second in overall points for the year, just in front of Bullas) then Marget and new BIANTE Touring Car Masters champ Mason – his rear tyres now completely cactus! Mick Wilson won Class B and finished seventh outright, just behind Tilley.

Fastest lap: Bullas 1:51.0894 (lap eight).

 

Darren Knight