After three entertaining days at Symmons Plains Raceway, the first half of the first ever Boost Mobile Race Tasmania is done and dusted.
With all categories putting on a show for the restricted number of spectators allowed to attend the Launceston based circuit, it was the perfect way to celebrate the return of national motorsport in 2021.
Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series
Jordan Cox solidified his position as a contender for the 2021 title after picking up two victories from the series’ two races.
In what was his first win in the series, Cox managed to improve from yesterday’s second place yesterday and snatch the lead from Aaron Cameron with juts 18 laps to go.
Holding off fellow Alfa Romeo Giulietta driver Lee Holdsworth for the remaining laps, Cox secured the memorable victory by just one second ahead of the race one winner, while Repco Supercars Championship star Chaz Mostert rounded out the top three.
Cox capped off his brilliant weekend with another victory in the round’s final race ahead of Mostert and Holdsworth. Even though Holdsworth crossed the line first in the event’s final race, he was demoted to third place after he was penalised for a jump start.
As a result of his two wins and runner-up placing, Cox ended the weekend in top spot overall ahead of Holdsworth and Mostert.
VHT Australian S5000 Drivers’ Championship
The second of the category’s two heats took place today as the reverse grid saw Joey Mawson and Thomas Randle start towards the back of the field after enjoying a thrilling battle in the first heat.
And like yesterday, it was Mawson who got the better start as the New South Welshman made up ground early, while Randle struggled to climb up the field as quick as he would have hoped.
Unfortunately, Mawson could only make it as high as fourth before the race was shortened due to Tommy Smith retiring and handing then-leader Tim Marcrow the win.
Crossing the finish line behind Macrow was Luis Leeds and Nathan Herne – the latter making up for a DNF in yesterday’s outing.
In the category's feature race, it was Randle who saved the best until last with the Victorian dominating the field to lead every lap and pick up a well deserved victory over Macrow.
The final position of the podium looked to have been going to Mawson for much of the race, only for Herne to pull off a great lap with four to go, jumping from fifth to third.
Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters
After coming so close to securing his 100th career win in the category yesterday, John Bowe was forced to wait again for that elusive victory after finishing the category’s first race of the day behind race one winner Adam Garwood.
As they had in the opening race, the duo was locked in an intense battle, only for Garwood to steer his Chevrolet Camaro to the win over Bowe and Ryan Hansford.
However, Bowe finally managed to etch himself into the history books in the weekend’s final race after picking up a comfortable seven second win over Garwood and Hansford – the biggest of the weekend.
The veteran driver trailed Garwood for the opening six laps but got him on the seventh and he never looked back as he stormed his way to victory, becoming just the fourth driver in Australian motorsport history to record 100 race wins within a single category.
National Trans Am Series
Aaron Seton and Nathan Herne’s battle from Saturday continued for much of the day as the duo traded race wins during the category’s two races.
After winning yesterday, Herne started strong in race two and led for much of the race, only for Seton to wrestle the lead back in his Ford Mustang and pick up a one and half second race win over the teenager, while Owen Kelly finished in third place.
The final race of the weekend was far more dramatic as the two-horse race turned into three as Kelly made serious attempts to steal the win.
After Herne passed Seton on the opening lap, the teenage sensation was again on track for another win, only for Kelly to snatch the lead midway throughout the race.
But Herne got it back in the final stages of the race and cruised to the victory as Kelly dropped down to fourth behind Seton and Tim Brook.
State categories
While Hanson had far less impact in the TCR Australia Series today as he did yesterday, the same couldn’t be said for his form in the Hyundai Excel Series as he charged to a clean sweep of race wins over Josh Webster and Ben Grice.
It was a similar story in the Holden HQs as Phillip Ashlin won all three races ahead of Brandon Madden and Andrew Toth, who enjoyed an extremely close fight for second place, which went right down the final laps.
In the final category of the weekend, a perfect day from Adam Williams saw the Holden Torana LX secure Improved Production round honours courtesy of two wins.
His closest rival in Rye Dunsmuir enjoyed two podiums but was unable to close down Williams having produced a disappointing performance yesterday.
Rounding out the category’s top three was race one winner Jarod House after a DNF in race two saw him lose any chance of round honours.
A number of this weekend's categories will return next month during the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships season opener at Phillip Island with the All Australian All Wheels Race Fest on 19-21 February.