Steven Richards and Tony Bates have scored sensational repeat victories in the second race of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Michelin season at the Clipsal 500 as devastation hit pace-setter Nick Foster.

Richards took advantage of his pole position to lead into the opening lap when, at turn eight, second-placed David Russell glazed the outside wall at high speed; the impact miraculously only slightly affecting the pace of his #10 Porsche, though it allowed Craig Baird to claim second position and, for Richards, build a larger buffer on the field and eventually take the chequered flag.

“I got a great start and was able to press on to a point where I was able to manage the race and the gap to second. The car feels the best it’s ever been and thankfully, at the moment, I’m driving half all right,” said Richards.

Craig Baird improved on his fourth placing in Friday’s opening race to finish second while Nick McBride took his second third placing for the weekend ahead of Russell, Richard Muscat, Cam McConville, Michael Almond, Simon Hodge and Fraser Ross in ninth.

Rounding out the top 10 was Bates – the first TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge driver to the finish. Bates was handed a four grid-spot penalty following Friday’s race, placing him behind three class competitors on the grid. A blistering start in race two allowed Bates to reach the class lead by the opening corner and ultimately take a dominant race win; his fifth straight class win at the Adelaide street circuit.

“I know we’re quick but we just need luck this year. We need to keep the car in front and get in a groove. I’m quick this weekend, I feel great in the car and the Porsche is really hooked up on track. The other Challenge drivers had a good race too so we’ll just see if I can do what I did last year and win all three races,” said Bates.

Roger Lago placed second in the Carrera Challenge class, one position behind 11th placed Duvashen Padayachee on track, from third placed Carrera Challenge driver Stephen Grove, Shane Smollen and Matt Campbell in 15th, who started from the rear of the field after failing to finish Friday’s race.

Adrian Mastronardo, Ash Samadi and Scott Taylor respectively finished 16th, 17th and 18th outright and fifth, sixth and seventh in the Carrera Challenge class.

The heart breaking story of the race was the premature end to Nick Foster’s charge to the front of the field. The young pole-sitter failed to make the start of Friday’s opening race and charged from the rear of the grid to fourth. Foster’s charge was halted, however, when making heavy contact with the turn eight barrier on the third-to-last lap, causing event-ending damage to his Porsche.

Marc Cini also failed to finish the race with radiator damage after contacting the turn 11 tyre wall.

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Michelin will hold its final Adelaide race on Sunday at 2:50pm.

Race Schedule
Sunday March 1, 2015
12:50pm-1:10pm – Race 3

Broadcast Schedule
Ten (Channel 10)
Sunday March 01, 2015
Race 3 – 1:00pm local time (1:30pm AEST)

Fox Sports 5 (Channel 506) Every session live!
Sunday March 01, 2015
Race 3 – 12:50pm local time (1:20pm AEST)

Race 2 results
1. Steven Richards (Professional) 12 laps – 16:47.6
2. Craig Baird (Professional) 12 laps – 16:50.0
3. Nick McBride (Professional) 12 laps – 16:51.8
4. David Russell (Professional) 12 laps – 16:54.4
5. Richard Muscat (Professional) 12 laps – 16:56.0
6. Cam McConville (Professional) 12 laps – 16:57.9
7. Michael Almond (Professional) 12 laps – 16:59.3
8. Simon Hodge (Professional) 12 laps – 17:06.4
9. Fraser Ross (Professional) 12 laps – 17:09.5
10. Tony Bates (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 17:16.9
11. Duvashen Padayachee (Professional) 12 laps – 17:17.6
12. Roger Lago (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 17:20.4
13. Stephen Grove (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 17:22.1
14. Shane Smollen (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 17:22.4
15. Matt Campbell (Professional) 12 laps – 17:24.3
16. Adrian Mastronardo (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 17:42.0
17. Ash Samadi (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 17:43.0
18. Scott Taylor (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 12 laps – 18:02.0
DNF Nick Foster (Professional) 9 laps – 12:42.2
DNF Marc Cini (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 6 laps – 08:51.0