Steven Richards has led home an experienced top three at Albert Park in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Hallmarc while Max Twigg completed a perfect championship return.

Victory in race two placed Richards on pole position for Sunday’s final race, which the reigning champion controlled from the start. Leading into the opening corner, Richards was closely followed by Craig Baird, who had a blistering start from fourth on the grid.

Richards maintained his position at the front until the chequered flag from Baird, Cam McConville and Shae Davies in fourth. The victory placed Richards on the top step of the round podium from McConville, in his second ever Carrera Cup round, and Baird in third.

“I’m driving with a lot of confidence at the moment; it’s the best car I’ve ever driven anywhere in any category; I love driving it and I think that’s when you drive at your best,” said Richards.

“You can’t take these results lightly; this is an unbelievably competitive championship so I’m making the most of it now because I don’t know how many I’ve got left. The less experienced guys have more experience at the coming circuits than Adelaide and Albert Park so the competition is only going to get tougher.”

Nick Foster continued his weekend-long charge through the field after failing to finish race one. Foster placed fifth after a great battle with David Russell, who placed sixth from Matt Campbell, Richard Muscat, Michael Almond, Fraser Ross, Spike Goddard and Duvashen Padayachee in 12th.

Max Twigg continued his winning ways in the TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge, taking his third race win in as many races.

“Race three was the most enjoyable race of the weekend as I held onto the professional drivers a lot longer and I think if we started with some more pressure in the front tyres we would have stayed there,” said Twigg.

Twigg placed 13th outright ahead of Simon Hodge in 14th. Roger Lago placed 15th and second in class from Shane Smollen and Tony Bates, finishing third and fourth in class. Smollen gained a position late in the race, elevating him to the Challenge class podium alongside round winner Twigg and second placed Bates.

Stephen Grove finished 18th outright and on equal points to podium-getter Smollen, though Smollen’s higher placing in the third race saw him awarded a round trophy.

Marc Cini finished the final race in 19th outright and sixth in class from Ash Samadi, Adrian Mastronardo, James Bergmuller and Nick McBride in 23rd; the race one winner forced to pit after sustaining damaged steering and a broken rim after contact with Davies at the start, a move that handed Davies a 25 point suspended penalty.

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia presented by Hallmarc will next race at Phillip Island on May 22-24, 2015, for the much anticipated Pro-Am event.

Race 3 results
1. Steven Richards (Professional) 10 laps – 20:08.5
2. Craig Baird (Professional) 10 laps – 20:09.0
3. Cam McConville (Professional) 10 laps – 20:09.6
4. Shae Davies (Professional) 10 laps – 20:09.9
5. Nick Foster (Professional) 10 laps – 20:13.8
6. David Russell (Professional) 10 laps – 20:15.3
7. Matt Campbell (Professional) 10 laps – 20:16.5
8. Richard Muscat (Professional) 10 laps – 20:20.4
9. Michael Almond (Professional) 10 laps – 20:21.4
10. Fraser Ross (Professional) 10 laps – 20:29.4
11. Spike Goddard (Professional) 10 laps – 20:29.6
12. Duvashen Padayachee (Professional) 10 laps – 20:30.8
13. Max Twigg (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 20:31.1
14. Simon Hodge (Professional) 10 laps – 20:31.8
15. Roger Lago (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 20:40.5
16. Shane Smollen (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 20:44.8
17. Tony Bates (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 20:45.3
18. Stephen Grove (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 20:53.6
19. Marc Cini (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 20:58.8
20. Ash Samadi (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 21:08.1
21. Adrian Mastronardo (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 21:08.5
22. James Bergmuller (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 10 laps – 21:21.4
23. Nick McBride (Professional) 9 laps – 21:01.5
DNF Scott Taylor (TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge) 8 laps – 17:08.3