O'Brien Claims Round One Honours
Three race wins for Shannon O’Brien gave him the Performance Wheels Australian Trans-Am Series lead after the opening round of the season at the Lakeside Tribute.
Dewi Jones - March 2017
A 12-car field took to the historic Lakeside circuit, with first spoils going to series debutant Cam Wilson in the Slideways Go Karting Australia Chevrolet Camaro, taking pole position (58.38) by two tenths of a second ahead of O’Brien (59.64) and Ian Palmer (59.29).
The opening race of the series saw a thrilling contest between the Trophy class frontrunners, as Wilson lead from the outset until he ran wide at Hungry Corner on lap three and handed the lead to O’Brien which he never relinquished. O’Brien crossed the line in his Pontiac Firebird narrowly ahead of Russell Wright, Ian Palmer, Wilson and Anthony Tenkate.
O’Brien went back-to-back in race two ahead of a resurgent Wilson and Wright. Wilson fought back to claim his maiden series race win in the third race of the weekend after a race-long battle with O’Brien, Wright, Palmer and Paul Stokell in drying conditions.
The final race saw O’Brien pick up his third win to kickstart his 2017 championship campaign at the top of the Trophy Series. Wilson capped off a stellar debut with second place ahead of a hard-charging Wright.
“The guys race really well and the car ran great all weekend to keep up with and get around the 72 [Wilson] car which is exceptionally quick,” said O’Brien
“Thanks to Woody, Robbo and Kaye at Fataz Competition Engines for getting the car sorted and preparing it for the weekend.”
Mustang driver Daniel Fleming sealed a clean sweep of the weekend in the Sportsman Series ahead of series debutant, New Zealander Tony Rutherford. Gareth Jones claimed the first two races in the 5 Litre Classics Series before Mike Collins clawed back to win races three and four. With two wins apiece, Jones and Collins ended the event level on points ahead of Tricia Chant.
The Performance Wheels Australian Trans-Am Series returns to Queensland Raceway for the second round of the season at the Ipswich Festival of Cars on May 6 and 7.