ELLEMENT IS WA F500 CHAMP FOR THE FIFTH TIME

Feature photo by: Cochrane photography

Release by DTN Media.

Steven Ellement has again rewritten the history books, after he claimed his fifth WA Formula 500 Championship.

It was his tenth WA title podium for this event – this year sponsored by Freo Group Pty Ltd.

The result moves him to third on the overall all-time Perth feature winners’ list.Meanwhile in further impressive statistics, his tenth podium now places Ellement sceond overall in total wins for the F500 state title.

Ellement was solid all weekend, coming into the final night second on points, then winning his final heat (with overnight points leader Matt Brown finishing second in his heat) to start the twenty-lap final from pole position alongside Brown. The second row was filled by American Jake Hagopian and former WA Champion Glenn Carstairs.

The twenty-six car field took the green, but it very nearly came undone quickly as Chris Dymock, who started out of position five, spun.

Dymock tried his hardest to keep going, but as he took off the car locked up and stopped, A caution light was thrown and the pristine #3 was towed off the track.

Brown and Ellement went side by side on the next start, Ellement just moving into the lead out of turn two and holding it to lead lap number one.

Jake Hagopian maintained third ahead of Mark House, and it wasn’t long before Hagopian moved underneath Brown for second.

Victorian Jett Speed, who had had a horror run over the weekend and only just made it on track for the feature after not having started a race on the final night, moved into fourteenth with four complete after starting twenty sixth.

The leaders Ellement and Hagopian began to pull away from Brown, with House still fourth as Carstairs and Brendon Marshman battled for fifth.

Ellement moved into lapped traffic in lap nine, with Hagopian right behind him, Ellement going low and Hagopian high on lap ten, with Hagopian just unable to make the move as the duo battled through heavy traffic.

With thirteen completed, Ellement had managed to open up a slight gap on Hagopian, while further back Jett Speed was now into position ten on lap fifteen.

Third placed Brown was still fighting hard to stay with the top two while there was a big gap back to fourth placed Mark House who had Carstairs and Marshman not far behind him.

With two to go Hagopian had closed the gap until Ellement went low and Hagopian high through the traffic, giving Ellement more of a gap as he lapped twelfth place.

In the end, Ellement claimed his fifth WA crown, defeating Hagopian and Brown, with House rounding out the top five.

A huge thankyou once again to the Freo Group Pty Ltd for supporting the WA title, to the Perth Motorplex for hosting the event and to all competitors for making the show as good as it was.

Feature, 20 laps: 1. Steven Ellement, 2. Jake Hagopian, 3. Matt Brown, 4. Mark Houe, 5. Glenn Carstairs, 6. Brendon Marshman, 7. Ryan Higgs, 8. David Sinagra, 9. Jett Speed, 10. Angus Hollis, 11. Jordan Mansell, 12. Glen Mears (19), 13. Brendan Newmarch (19), 14. Alfonso Guadagnino (19), 15. Jake Pobjoy (19), 16. Hayden Pascoe (19), 17. Robert Rankin (19), 18. Jayden Maughan (19), 19. David Carstairs (19), 20. Jamie Pages (19), 21. Troy Samwell (19), 22. Steve Carter (19), 23. Jason Carbone (19), 24. Darren Wood (19). DNF: Gavin Casey (17), Chris Dymock (0). DNS: Brendan Condren. Total Time: 5.40.285. Winning Margin: 0.719. Fastest Lap: 16.425 Steven Ellement.