Sunday, December 30, 2007
Gavin White
The picturesque Laang Speedway hosted round 3 of the Oval Express Formula 500 Series last night (Saturday) where Matt Brown out run a pair of talented American aces for an exciting win. Brown led every lap of the dramatic final while injured Pennsylvanian Tim Buckwalter raced to second ahead of Californian Dean Alexander in third.
The talented West Australian qualified outside of the front row alongside Buckwalter who carried his injured arm into round 3 after a nasty flip the previous night at Hamilton. The second row saw round 1 winner and Australia #1 Ben McLeod while talented Queensland teenager Brock Hallett was alongside while the third row featured local Brett Willsher who started on the inside of Californian Dean Alexander.
Several aborted starts littered the beginning of the final however it was the enthralling drag race into turn 1 that had everyone’s attention between Brown and the 18 year old American. Brown eventually gained the ascendancy and never looked back as he withstood several stoppages to take the win. Even a restart with three laps remaining, Brown was able to power his FTZ R6 Murphy to the strong win.
Buckwalter’s runner up finish was choc full of drama when the American missed hot laps due to the Cox Motorsport team still rebuilding the RTS from the previous nights wreck. Buckwalter spent the night in the Hamilton hospital and was visibly struggling with a sore arm however right from his first heat he was on the pace. Buckwalter drove through a developing hole in turn 1 early in the final and the entire car bounced through the turn, dislodging the radiator mounted behind the driver’s helmet on the roll cage.
As the race wore on, Buckwalter fell into the clutches of Alexander and was trying valiantly to hang on with steam starting to pour from the broken radiator. At the restart with three laps remaining, the radiator increasingly became an issue with the car undoubtedly beginning to overheat as the steam was visually pouring from the dislodged radiator while rolling under caution. Buckwalter managed stay ahead of the opposition to finish second although he had little for Brown who turned the quickest lap of the final.
California’s Alexander had a real opportunity to get back into the points chase and although pressuring Buckwalter for the latter half of the race he was unable to get past eventually finishing third. Alexander was visibly suffering the after effects of following Buckwalter with coolant splashing across his helmet and face. Alexander was once again a class act as he made it onto the podium where he is keen to get to the next three rounds on the wide-open spaces of Sungold Stadium and Parramatta City Raceway.
Australian champ Ben McLeod raced to the final podium place in fourth and he once again was right on the pace. McLeod enjoyed a tight battle with West Australian youngster Alex McLaughlin who eventually finished fifth.
Rounding out the top ten was Queensland’s Dale Shilleto, West Australian Steven Gay, teenager Hallett, New South Welshman Roy Urpeth and Australia #3 Steve Caunt.
Jess Moulden continued her excellent series to win the B-main ahead of 20-year-old West Australian Aaron Higgins, Phil Smith and Ash Hicks. The B-main was marred by an incident when Queensland rookie Ben Dorset slammed the pit gate that needed to be welded back into place such was the impact.
Heat 1 was a popular win to 20-year-old Jess Moulden as she defeated Grant Pearson. Don Bowey enjoyed a great run into third ahead of Townsville’s Alan Iverson and Bundaberg’s Mick Pronger.
Heat 2 was a sign of things to come when Matt Brown stormed to the win ahead of Buckwalter who stormed from the rear of the field in a stirring run. McLaughlin raced into third ahead of Hallett and West Australian Tim Winters.
Heat 3 was a Ben McLeod benefit as he raced away from Matt Turner and Roy Urpeth in a strong performance. Steve Caunt and Brett Willsher rounded out the top 5 as American’s Alexander and Edwards finished behind the top 5, as did Steven Gay showing how tough the heats were!
Heat 4 and Buckwalter defeated Brown, as the pair were inseparable throughout the night! Queensland pair Alan Iverson and Hallett finished ahead of Willsher who was in fifth. Luke Bowey was an unlucky recipient of a ‘don’t argue’ in turn 1 when he drilled the wall after contact.
Heat 5 was a strong run for Queensland #1 Dan Moes as he raced to the win ahead of Roy Urpeth and Phil Smith. Scott Dillon and Ben Dorset rounded out the top five in a great result for the youngsters. American Eric Edwards rode Urpeth’s wheel and slammed the wall in an unfortunate incident that was purely a racing incident.
Heat 6 was again a Ben McLeod benefit as he raced away from Steven Gay and Dean Alexander. Rookie Liam Williams raced into fourth ahead of Mick Pronger.
Heat 7 and local ace Brett Willsher raced to the win ahead of Kate Searle who enjoyed her best finish of the series thus far. WA duo Tim Winters and Alex McLaughlin finished ahead of Phil Smith who continues to impress.
Heat 8 and former four times Australian champion Don Bowey looked very good as he defeated the Pace Chassis teammates Dale Shilleto and Dean Alexander while Liam Williams and Matt Brown rounded out the top 5.
Heat 9 saw Steve Caunt take a commanding win ahead of Brock Hallett who has impressed immensely throughout the first three rounds. Buckwalter and Moes both finished ahead of fifth placed Rick Casley.
After three consecutive rounds, the Oval Express Series now enjoys a short two-day break before returning in round 4 action at the high banks of Sungold Stadium running alongside Wanless World Series Sprintcars.
Don’t miss a moment of the action and be sure to stay tuned to www.formula500.com.au for all the latest results from each and every round of this exciting Formula 500 series that continues to ‘break new ground’!
07/08 OVAL EXPRESS FORMULA 500 SERIES DATES
Rd 1 – December 27th, Blue Ribbon Raceway, Horsham
Rd 2 – December 28th, Western Speedway, Hamilton
Rd 3 – December 29th, Laang Speedway, Laang
Rd 4 – January 1st, Sungold Stadium, Warrnambool
Rd 5 – January 4th, Parramatta City Raceway, Sydney
Rd 6 – January 5th, Parramatta City Raceway, Sydney (Final)
2007/2008 Oval Express Formula 500 Series Points
A1 Ben McLeod 414
WA4 Matt Brown 407
Q13 Brock Hallett 374
USA17 Tim Buckwalter 373
USA4 Dean Alexander 362
Q60 Dan Moes 359
WA49 Alex McLaughlin 352
Q42 Mick Pronger 334
WA19 Steven Gay 317
V53 Jess Moulden 316
V14 Brett Willsher 298
N9 Roy Urpeth 297
A3 Steve Caunt 296
WA62 Tim Winters 272
V62 Liam Williams 264
SA5 Luke Bowey 261
V28 Ash Hicks 253
V32 Matt Turner 232
WA22 Aaron Higgins 231
Q32 Ben Dorset 224
V26 Grant Pearson 224
WA8 Rick Casley 221
V19 Scott Dillon 212
V86 Kate Searle 206
Q4 Dale Shilleto 199
V25 Phil Smith 182
V33 Russell Brimacombe 170
WA69 Ben Devlin 167
V45 Jeremy Beddison 161
V18 Shane Hicks 157
V15 Leigh Van Ginneken 154
Q83 Alan Iverson 153
USA6 Eric Edwards 140
V75 Andrew Blackstock 137
Q98 Wayne Moller 134
V57 Clint Walkinshaw 112
USA61 Dianne Tobias 108
SA9 Don Bowey 99
NT6 Jarrod Williams 96
V66 Kevin Freeman 91
Round 3 winner Matt Brown rockets around Laang Speedway. Check the Gallery for more of Phil Jordison's photos. Pic Phil Jordison
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