PASCOE LEADS AFTER NIGHT ONE OF THE GP

Release Courtesy of Super Sedans Tasmania

New Tasmanian Champion Brad Pascoe is the top points man after the opening night of the Gulf Western & Independent Oils Grand Prix at Gulf Western & Independent Oils Raceway, Latrobe, Tasmania.

Pascoe secured two heat wins and a third to stand alone at the top of the standings from fellow Queenslander Darren Kane in second, and Tasmania’s Callum Harper in third.

Tasmania’s Grant Hopkins kicked off his Grand Prix campaign in perfect fashion, with a win in the opening heat of the night. Hopkins led home Queensland’s Steve Jordan in second, and Victorian Champion Jamie Collins in third.

Pascoe got his night off to a great start taking out heat two after starting from fourth on the grid. Tasmanian Brendan Flynn crossed the line second in one of the best performances of his career, from fellow Tasmanian Peter Johnston in third.

Callum Harper took out a stacked third heat, leading home a pair of Pascoe’s with New South Wales Champion Matty Pascoe in second, and Zac Pascoe in third.

Queensland’s Darren Kane marked his return to Tasmania with a win in heat four, leading the way from Tasmania’s Steve Latham in second, and South Australian Kym Jury in third.

Sean Black bounced back after his rollover last weekend with a win in heat five. Wayne Dillon was next across the line in second, from Brad Pascoe in third who rallied from the rear of the field.

Adam Beechey led the whole ten lap journey in a stacked fifth heat. Beechey crossed the line a second clear of Victorian Mick Nicola Jnr in second, and Harper in third.

Zac Pascoe dominated heat seven, after starting from fourth on the grid. Pascoe crossed the line four seconds clear of fellow Queenslander Rob Hamilton in second, and Hopkins in third.

Kane made it two from two with a commanding performance in heat eight. Kane led the way from Tasmanian duo Marcus Alexander in second, and David Nichols in third.

Alexander backed that performance up with a gritty win in heat nine. Alexander held off a hard charging Harper in second, and Matty Pascoe in third, with both Harper and Pascoe charging from the rear of the field.

Latham was too good in heat ten, crossing the line two seconds clear of Laura Davidson in second, and Black in third.

Jordan capped off a big week with a win in the penultimate heat of the night. Jordan accounted for Luke Gunn in second, and Nicola Jnr in third.

Brad Pascoe propelled himself to the top of the standings with a thrilling last gasp win in the final heat of the night. Pascoe took the lead on the final lap, finishing ahead of Beechey in second, and Wayne Dillon in third.

Racing will get underway tonight at 6pm. Each driver will compete in a further two rounds of heat races, with the top eighteen in the points standings locking straight into the pole shuffle.

The remaining six starters will transfer to the fifty lap main event via the B Main.

Gulf Western & Independent Oils Grand Prix points standings after three rounds of heats

1. Q1/T1 Brad Pascoe – 95

2. Q36 Darren Kane – 89

3. T22 Callum Harper – 87

4. T14 Adam Beechey – 81

5. Q10 Steve Jordan – 77

6. T8 Steve Latham – 77

7. Q26 Sean Black – 76

8. T4 Marcus Alexander – 74

9. Q6 Zac Pascoe – 72

10. N1 Matty Pascoe – 68

11. T73 Grant Hopkins – 67

12. T12 Luke Gunn – 62

13. T48 Wayne Dillon – 61

14. V23 Mick Nicola Jnr – 59

15. T61 Laura Davidson – 53

16. T75 Brendan Flynn – 53

17. Q11 Rob Hamilton – 49

18. T3 David Nichols – 46

19. V1 Jamie Collins – 46

20. T7 Nathan Howells – 43

21. T26 Peter Johnston – 43

22. Q98 Michael Hally – 40

23. S93 Kym Jury – 39

24. T49 Aaron Dillon – 35

25. W9 Kemble Aylett – 32

26. T25 Joe Breitkopf – 29

27. T16 Dennis Davidson – 28

28. T88 Paul Howard – 26

29. T18 Dwaine Sonners – 25

30. T10 Andrew Poke – 16

31. T9 Gil Aylett – 6

32. V3 Mick Nicola Snr – 0