Thursday, 7 January 2010
Daniel Kirby
Chad Sullivan overcame a desperate last gasp lunge by Matt Brown to win the final Oval Express Formula 500 Series round at Laang Speedway, Sunday 3rd of January.
Greg Wickham was 3rd across the line with Simon Craven completing a good series with a strong 4th place finish.
Brown and Sullivan shared the front row after both claiming Dash Wins. Wickham and Craven shared the second row with series leader Ben McLeod and “The General” Jack Lee.
Brown set the pace in the early going, scooting away from the rest of the chasing pack and was up to lap traffic within 10 laps before a spin by Charlie Brown in turn 4 halted proceedings. Brown was able to restart at the back of the pack. The restart was exactly what Sullivan wanted with Brown drifting high in turn 2. Without hesitation Sullivan pounced at the opportunity and sped away with the lead only to have the yellow come on again.
With the field bunched up and fresh air ahead, Sullivan set the pace and it wasn’t long before lap traffic played it’s part once again in the 30 lap final. With 1 lapped car between Sullivan and Brown, Chad was able to extend his lead before being held up by another lapped car. This is just what Brown want and gave him the final opportunity to catch up. With the 2 speedsters in heavy lapped traffic they received the white flag. No matter how much he tried Sullivan couldn’t get passed that lapped car and coming off the final turn Brown tried the bottom and got excellent grip. With 0.033 seconds separating the two cars it was deemed the closest ever finish in the history of the Oval Express Formula 500 series.
With Wickham and Craven rounding out the podium Ben McLeod finished in 5th spot. He was followed home by Mick Pronger, Brock Hallett, Jack Lee, Angelo Karoussis and Jye O’Keeffe rounding out the top 10. Liam Williams, Jason Priolo, Jess Moulden, Gary Hart, Steven Horton, David Sinagra, Robert Muscat and Jamie Korte rounded out the finishers. Jesse Nicholas and Charlie Brown failed to finish and watched the final from the infield.
The A Dash was won by Matt Brown with Wickham and McLeod rounding out the top 3. Meanwhile Sullivan won the B-Dash with Craven and Jack Lee rounding out the top 3.
The B-Main was won by Charlie Brown with Liam Williams, Jamie Korte and Jess Moulden getting the final transfer spot. Austin Farley finished in 5th and was 1st reserve for the final with Dale Sinclair 6th place home in the B-Main and 2nd reserve.
Sullivan started off on the right note with a heat 1 victory. Other heat winners were Mick Pronger, Greg Wickham, David Sinagra, Brock Hallett, Garry Hart, Simon Craven, Jesse Nicholas and Austin Farley also picking up heat wins.
Contingency Awards
AG Racing Wings Hard Charger Award- Liam Williams (Passed 7 Cars in A-Main)
Swift Racing Products Shock Dyno Voucher- Jesse Nicholas
Upright Wings Front Wing- Mick Pronger
Spruce Enterprises Rod End Pack- Angelo Karaussis
The Victorian Formula 500 Association would like to thank all of the Tracks and Sponsors for their support for this season.
Oval Express Formula 500 Series Sponsors
Oval Express Magazine
Max Dumesny Motorsport
Hoosier Tyre Australia
Impact Racing
Swift Racing Products
AG Racing Wings
Maxam Printing
Phil Jordison Photography
RTS Chassis
Spruce Enterprises
Empire Graphics
Lethal Race Wings
Upright Wings
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