Matt Campbell has started the 2016 season in the same fashion in which he finished the last: with victory in the opening Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Michelin race at the Clipsal 500. Tony Bates was another to repeat the feat, continuing his Surfers Paradise success onto the Adelaide streets.

In qualifying, Campbell had initially claimed the TAG Heuer Pole Position Award until Ash Walsh had a kerb hopping breach overturned for the quickest lap of the session.

Starting second, Campbell charged to the lead by the opening corner from Nick McBride and Walsh.

An early safety car brought the field together as the stricken cars of James Abela and Garth Walden were recovered, before Campbell held the lead from the restart until the chequered flag in the shortened 10 lap race, claiming his fifth straight Carrera Cup race victory following his strong finish to 2015.

“It’s a great way to start the season. It’s good to get a win and have a clean car after race one and hopefully we can have a similar result in the next two races across the weekend,” said Campbell, who has been slated as a championship favourite entering 2016.

“We’re not thinking of the championship at the moment. I’m going out and doing the best I can each race and see where I end up. This round last year was woeful by anyone’s standards with a bit of bad luck and a couple of my mistakes. I’ve been quick throughout this weekend so far and I’m hoping I can continue this pace across the next two races.”

McBride started his third season on a strong note with second place ahead of newcomers Walsh and Alex Davison and regulars Fraser Ross and Michael Almond in fifth and sixth.

“I made a nice start, for once, which was a good start to the year,” said McBride. “I’ve been a little bit disappointed with my pace so far this weekend but it was nice to find a bit for race one. I’m going to have to find a bit more if I’m going to win a race tomorrow, so that’s the challenge we have overnight, to see what we can do for tomorrow.”

Former V8 Supercars trio David Wall, Steven Richards and Dean Fiore placed eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively, ahead of leading TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge racer, Tony Bates in 11th outright.

The Challenge race win was Bates’s seventh straight at the Clipsal 500 having clean swept the last two Adelaide events, while this weekend, he also aims for a record equalling four straight Challenge round wins.

“That’s seven race wins in a row in Adelaide and I’m shooting for four rounds in a row. It’s a good start, not that we’re worrying about that sort of stuff. I’ve got to put a strong season together; I’ve done this two years in a row now; I’ve gone well at the Clipsal 500 but I have to maintain this form throughout the season,” said Bates.

“Qualifying didn’t go our way this morning, we should have been a lot further up the grid. With two races to go the car feels good and I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Shane Smollen was second in class and 12th outright from Stephen Grove, Marc Cini, James Bergmuller and Adrian Mastronardo.

Abela and Walden failed to finish after early race contact, while Dylan O’Keeffe failed to make the race one grid following a qualifying incident, though will be on the grid for Saturday’s race two.

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Michelin will hold race two on Saturday and race three on Sunday.

Race Schedule
Saturday March 05, 2016
11:35am-12:05pm Race 2 (20 Laps)
Sunday March 06, 2016
2:10pm-2:40pm Race 3 (20 Laps)

Broadcast Schedule (local time)
Channel: TEN
Race 2 – 11:35am, Saturday March 05
Race 3 – 2:10pm, Sunday March 06
Channel: Fox Sports 5 (Channel 506)
Race 2 – 11:35am, Saturday March 05
Race 3 – 2:10pm, Sunday March 06

Race 1 Results
1. #7 Matt Campbell – Nuveau Construct. Qld/Phase 8 – 10 laps 20:23.1
2. #77 Nick McBride – Bob Jane T-Marts – 10 laps 20:24.5
3. #777 Ash Walsh – Bob Jane T-Marts/Infants Friend – 10 laps 20:24.8
4. #25 Alex Davison – Wilson Parking – 10 laps 20:25.1
5. 360 Fraser Ross – 360fly – 10 laps 20:27.1
6. #26 Michael Almond – Copyworld – 10 laps 20:27.7
7. #38 David Wall – Wilson Security – 10 laps 20:28.7
8. #12 Steven Richards – Laser Plumbing and Electrical – 10 laps 20:29.0
9. #8 Dean Fiore Saint/Porsche Centre Melbourne 10 laps 20:29.8
10. #45 Duvashen Padayachee – Darrell Lea STIX –10 laps 20:30.6
11. #24 Tony Bates – Moveitnet/A.F.S (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps 20:35.4
12. #56 Shane Smollen – McGrath Estate Agents (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps 20:36.0
13. #4 Stephen Grove – Grove Hire – (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps 20:40.5
14. #9 Marc Cini – Hallmarc (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps 20:41.3
15. #13 James Bergmuller – pricepressure.com.au – (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps 20:41.9
16. #39 Adrian Mastronardo – Veritas Property Group (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps, 20:42.7
DNF #54 James Abela – Horsley Park Gun Shop
DNF #21 Garth Walden – CIP/GWR