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Herne Fends off Hazelwood For Race 1 Victory
Nathan Herne has reaped immediate rewards from returning to the Ford fold, winning the first Trico Trans Am Series race of the weekend at Ipswich.
The two-time champion has been running a Dodge Challenger since returning to the category earlier this year, but opted to switch body panels after the most recent Tailem Bend round.
He’s been on-song ever since, qualifying his #29 Mustang on the front row and going on to take the honours in the Trans Am opener at EVENTelec Race Queensland.
The Lismore product made a lightning start, affording him the chance to boldly hang around the outside of polesitter Todd Hazelwood at Turn 1.
Hazelwood had reigned supreme in the three Friday sessions but all of a sudden had his work cut out, with a plucky Herne ahead.
After playing it cool early, Hazelwood reeled Herne in to put the latter under immense pressure lap after lap from the midway point of the race.
Hazelwood was persistent in trying to find a way past, but Herne could not be pressured into a mistake, spurning Hazelwood’s advances to hang on for a special win – his first as a driver/owner.
Their squabble brought Jordan Boys into the mix, the 26-year-old having picked off James Golding and Elliott Cleary in the opening few laps.
By the end of 18 laps, he was third but 0.8664s off the victory.
Golding was a lonely fourth, while Cleary was forced to retire from the race with a suspected clutch issue.
Behind Edan Thornburrow and Elliot Barbour was James Moffat in seventh, sporting bonnet damage and having had his points advantage to Hazelwood trimmed.
Rounding out the top 10 was Jackson Rice, Josh Thomas (for the Pro-Am class win), and Tom Davies while Jordan Cox got to 12th after being sent to the rear of the grid.
Race 2 of the weekend is scheduled for 3:40pm.