PERTH MOTORPLEX: ANOTHER NIGHT OF HISTORY!

For the second consecutive meeting at the Perth Motorplex, there was a night of records, but differing from previously when it was all about the times, it was all about Formula 500 feature race wins!

Steven Ellement (Steven Ellement Motorsport) was the man who raced away to claim the victory in the King of Kwinana event, the fifth time he has won this race which is a record within itself, but that feature win was also his fortieth at the Perth Motorplex venue, putting him as the equal all time most successful driver at the venue!

Earlier in the night in Round Two of the Opal Finance Home Loans Track Championship, Brendan Newmarch (Newmarch Racing) bounced back into form and claimed the opening heat win, as last night’s winner Mikey Green found his shot at two in a row coming to a premature end after an incident that also involved Darren Wood (Woodys Racing).

Chris Dymock (Dymock Motorsport) claimed the second after the demise of race leader Glenn Carstairs in an incident with a spinning car, meaning both heat races had stoppages, which has been unusual for the division thus far this season.

With points totaled from the two heat races, Dymock would once again start from pole position alongside old foe Ellement, with Ellement grabbing the lead into opening turns with Dymock in second.

David Sinagra (Sinagra Motorsport) was a big mover early after starting sixth and grabbing third on the opening circulation as Carstairs, coming from eighth, bounced through the turns and into fourth.

On lap two Carstairs was able to draw alongside Sinagra and took third, but Sinagra fought back and retook it down the back straight. Carstairs simply wouldn’t give up though and got back by him once and for all shortly after.

Sinagra then came under pressure from Brendon Marshman (Opal Finance F500 Racing) as Rhys Cumming (RJC Motorsport) retired infield after a tough night, while back up front Ellement was still leading Dymock, with Carstairs third and Marshman into fourth.

At this point cars began to evenly space out, the closest battle being Sinagra and Alfonso Guadagnino (Guadagnino Racing Team – GRT) now fighting for fifth, Alfie getting the position on the eighth circulation in a close move for both down on the curb.

On the tenth lap Ellement found himself in lapped traffic, getting stuck behind two cars in particular which allowed Dymock and Carstairs to both close the gap.

Finally he would get through on the twelfth circulation and he hit the loud pedal in his attempt to get away from Dymock, who now had Carstairs on his tail.

On lap thirteen Carstairs went low on Dymock in turn three and the two made contact, Carstairs getting through for the position with two laps remaining.

Carstairs tried to chase down Ellement from here, but it simply wasn’t enough, Ellement claiming his record fortieth feature win and fifth King of Kwinana crown, defeating Carstairs and Dymock in what was another great race meeting.

The Formula 500s now have a few weeks break after what was an intense schedule to start the season, the next event on the calendar being FAST Racing Series Round Two at the Perth Motorplex on December 1.