SEASON FINALE SUNDAY OFF TO A RECORD-SETTING START AT MOUNT PANORAMA

10 Nov SEASON FINALE SUNDAY OFF TO A RECORD-SETTING START AT MOUNT PANORAMA

The first of today’s final three 30-minute races of the 2024 Meguiar’s Australian Production Cars season has been completed at Mount Panorama as part of the Bathurst International this morning, with another outright 1/2/3 again dominated by Class X racers. 

The #118 DA Campbell Transport BMW M2 took the outright and class win to back up the race one result (click here for the race one recap), this time with Cameron Crick aboard for a lights-to-flag victory ahead of Grant Sherrin in the #27 Sherrin Rentals BMW M4, who crossed the line two seconds behind in second place. 

On his way to victory, Crick also reset the current Meguiar’s APC Mount Panorama lap record, which had been in place since the 2022 Bathurst International, with a 2:21.5712s effort on lap two of this morning’s race.

Simon Hodges once again rounded out the race podium in third outright and in class X in the #21 Secure Wealth BMW M4.

Taking out the other class victories in race two were Nathan Callaghan in the #64 Cachet Homes Chevrolet Camaro (outright 4th – A2 1st, driving with Chris Lillis), Paul Buccini in the #71  Buccini Transport BMW M140i (outright 6th – A1 1st), Courtney Prince in the #999 Buccini Transport BMW 135i (outright 10th, B1 1st, driving with Karlie Buccini), Ashley Hooper in the  #15 BTuned BMW M3 (outright 11th – B2 1st, driving with Chris Begg), Justin Lewis in the #50 Yellow Express Mazda RX8 (outright 16th – D 1st) and Rob Jarvis in the #70 TOA57D Motorsport VW Polo GTI (outright 22nd – C 1st, driving with Allan Jarvis).

Gary Beggs in the #41 Holden R8 Clubsport (outright 5th – A2 2nd), Matthew Holt in the #65 Cavanagh Electrics HSV Clubsport (outright 7th – A2 3rd), Chris Sutton #321 321 MotoFit Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX (outright 8th – A1 2nd), and Brian Callaghan in the #37 Callaghan Concrete Pumps HSV VY GTS (outright 9th – A2 4th) rounded out the top ten outright.

Courtney Prince had a spectacular run this morning after a post-race one penalty saw the #999 relegated to the rear of the grid for the start of this morning’s race to finish in 10th outright.

The next racers across the line were Hooper (outright 11th, B2 1st), Peter O’Donnell in the #28 Spinifex Recruiting BMW 335i (outright 12th, B1 2nd), Mick Rowell in the #3 Rowell Logistics Ford Mustang GT (outright 13th – A2 5th), Brent Peters in the 32 Luxe Performance Holden Commodore SSV (outright 14th – B2 2nd, driving with Damien Croxon), and Trent Whyte in the #18 Ultimate Diesel Tuning Toyota GR Yaris (outright 15th – A1 3rd).

While the field enjoyed 30 minutes of green flag running, a number of racers struck trouble. 

The #143 A1 Towing Bathurst Subaru STI of Harry Inwood (driving with Darcy Inwood this weekend) was on for a strong finish in a great battle pack with fellow B1 racers Prince and O’Donnell before being struck down when a power steering hose blew. The team are working hard to get the #143 back out in time for the next race. 

Midway through the race, the #322 Tierney Automotive Toyota 86 of Geoff Tierney and Danny Tierney struck the wall with Geoff behind the wheel. Geoff walked away from the scene, but the damage sustained means the #322 will take no further part this weekend. 

Meanwhile, the #89 Mazda RX8 of Matt Clift entered the pits during the green flag running and took no further part in race two due to a fuel pick up issue. Clift plans to return to race three with a tank “filled to the brim” to try and avoid a repeat. 

Shane Fowler and Gavan Reynolds meanwhile have had a trying start to the weekend in the #131 Clancy Ford Ford Fiesta ST, struggling with fuel pick-up issues causing them to DNF race one and miss race two entirely. The pair are attempting to source parts to ensure a return in time for race three.

The #11 Absolute Transport BMW 135i of Justin Ashwell fell afoul of the stewards with a post-race disqualification for a technical infringement for aftermarket turbo intake tubing and a metal blow-off valve, which have now been replaced with standard fittings ahead of race three. Prior to this decision, Ashwell had crossed the line 19th outright and 3rd in B1.

For the full final results sheet, see below.

Two more to go

The 2024 Meguiar’s Australian Production Cars season isn’t done yet, with two more 30-minute races around Mount Panorama to decide this year’s outright and class champions still to come. Watch how the championship plays out live on 7plus at 12.05pm (race three) and 4.35pm (race four) local time. To learn more about the Meguiar’s APC, visit www.ausprodcars.com.au

All pics thanks to Speed Shots Photography