Melbourne racer Nick McBride claimed stunning back-to-back Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race victories at his home Sandown Raceway event on Saturday, while Tim Miles swept the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge.
McBride started Saturday by claiming the TAG Heuer Pole Position in qualifying before leading home a Sonic Motor Racing one-two to the chequered flag in race one, with teammate Andre Heimgartner placing second from Alex Davison in third, who caught the leading duo in the final laps after passing young debutant Jordan Love for third position.
David Wall and Cam McConville also muscled their way past Love before the finish, placing fourth and fifth, respectively, while Love placed sixth, one position ahead of fellow GT3 Cup Challenge graduate, Brenton Grove.
McBride was equally as impressive in race two, which was shortened to nine laps following the lengthy delay to fix the turn six tyre barrier after a crash in the Supercars Championship race. Heimgartner challenged McBride at the start however the race one winner took command of the lead until a mid-race safety car intervention caused by Love spinning into the turn nine gravel trap. McBride continued at the front after the restart to claim his fifth race win of the season and sixth career race win in the Porsche series.
“It’s been a perfect Saturday with the two race wins. I can’t thank this team enough for preparing the car to an awesome standard,” said McBride.
“We had to stay focussed today, especially in the second race, which was always going to be time certain. We’ll now look to Sunday and the start of the Endurance Cup, which I’m really looking forward to.”
Davison placed second at the finish of race two from Heimgartner, Wall, McConville and young guns Dylan O’Keeffe and Grove in sixth and seventh.
While McBride was dominant at the front of the field, Tim Miles was the driver to beat in the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge.
Sam Shahin was the class pole-sitter, though Miles gained the upper hand in the opening race, ultimately claiming the Challenge class win from Dean Cook, Stephen Grove, Marc Cini, Shahin and Graham Williams. Miles returned with another impressive class win in race two – and ultimately finished 10th outright – from fellow class runners Grove, Shahin, Cook, Cini and Williams.
“I was really happy with both races today. My car was a bit unstable after the first race and the McElrea Racing guys produced a much better car for the second race. Both races were great and we had a lot of fun,” said Miles.
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia returns on Sunday for the final 25-lap race of the weekend, which will feature as the opening race of the inaugural Endurance Cup.
Race Schedule
Sunday September 17, 2017
11:55am Race 3 (25 laps)
Broadcast Schedule
Channel: Fox Sports 506
Race 3 – 11:55am, Sunday Sept 17
Race 1 Results
1. #77 Nick McBride (Outright) Sonic/Bob Jane T-Marts – 12 laps, 14:13.8971s
2. #777 Andre Heimgartner (Outright) Bob Jane T-Marts/Money Now – 12 laps, 14:14.4595s
3. #888 Alex Davison (Outright) President Limo Australia – 12 laps, 14:14.8802s
4. #38 David Wall (Outright) PAYCE/Wilson Security – 12 laps, 14:18.1297s
5. #5 Cameron McConville (Outright) Repair Management Australia – 12 laps, 14:22.4707s
6. #79 Jordan Love (Outright) Sonic Motor Racing/Quintis – 12 laps, 14:23.4725s
7. #23 Brenton Grove (Outright) Porsche Centre Melbourne – 12 laps, 14:25.2331s
8. #136 James Abela (Outright) Horsley Park Gun Shop – 12 laps, 14:26.2543s
9. #88 Dylan O’Keeffe (Outright) APB Group/President Limo Australia – 12 laps, 14:27.2929s
10. #26 Michael Almond (Outright) Copyworld – 12 laps, 14:30.0811s
11. #70 Tim Miles (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Miles Advisory Partners – 12 laps, 14:41.6936s
12. #33 Simon Ellingham (Outright) Peak Marketing – 12 laps, 14:45.0889s
13. #22 Dean Cook (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Zonzo Racing – 12 laps, 14:49.5028s
14. #34 John Morriss (Guest) Motorsport Leasing/Race Ramps – 12 laps, 14:50.1050s
15. #4 Stephen Grove (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Grove Group – 12 laps, 14:50.4050s
16. #9 Marc Cini (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Hallmarc – 12 laps, 14:51.7195s
17. #13 Sam Shahin (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) HTFU – 12 laps, 14:59.6779s
18. #131 Graham Williams (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) WRA – 12 laps, 15:12.8199s
DNF #7 Jaxon Evans (Outright) Hungry Jacks
Race 2 Results
1. #77 Nick McBride (Outright) Sonic/Bob Jane T-Marts – 9 laps, 12:09.1614s
2. #888 Alex Davison (Outright) President Limo Australia – 9 laps, 12:09.8071s
3. #777 Andre Heimgartner (Outright) Bob Jane T-Marts/Money Now – 9 laps, 12:10.6218s
4. #38 David Wall (Outright) PAYCE/Wilson Security – 9 laps, 12:11.0549s
5. #5 Cameron McConville (Outright) Repair Management Australia – 9 laps, 12:11.3616s
6. #88 Dylan O’Keeffe (Outright) APB Group/President Limo Australia – 9 laps, 12:12.7485s
7. #23 Brenton Grove (Outright) Porsche Centre Melbourne – 9 laps, 12:14.1815s
8. #26 Michael Almond (Outright) Copyworld – 9 laps, 12:14.3347s
9. #7 Jaxon Evans (Outright) Hungry Jacks – 9 laps, 12:14.5751s
10. #70 Tim Miles (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Miles Advisory Partners – 9 laps, 12:17.4050s
11. #136 James Abela (Outright) Horsley Park Gun Shop – 9 laps, 12:18.9582s
12. #33 Simon Ellingham (Outright) Peak Marketing – 9 laps, 12:18.9635s
13. #4 Stephen Grove (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Grove Group – 9 laps, 12:22.2828s
14. #13 Sam Shahin (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) HTFU – 9 laps, 12:22.8890s
15. #22 Dean Cook (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Zonzo Racing – 9 laps, 12:23.3806s
16. #9 Marc Cini (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) Hallmarc – 9 laps, 12:25.6495s
17. #34 John Morriss (Guest) Motorsport Leasing/Race Ramps – 9 laps, 12:26.2959s
18. #131 Graham Williams (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) WRA – 9 laps, 12:31.6814s
DNF #79 Jordan Love (Outright) Sonic Motor Racing/Quintis – 3 laps, 5:55.1970s