TWO points separate Jackson Walls and Callum Hedge heading into the final race of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia in Adelaide.
The championship and Equity-One Pro class will now be decided based on who finishes higher in Sunday’s 11-lap season finale setting up a literal winner-take-all showdown between the pair of talented Michelin Juniors.
The SP Tools Pro-Am class will also be decided on Sunday however a win for Adrian Flack today makes his final day a much simpler equation, provisionally sitting 42 points clear of Dean Cook in the title race with one to go.
Dale Wood continued his imperious Adelaide form, claiming today’s shortened race following a brilliant start and a healthy lap one lead.
Though the chasing back came back to the Ranbuild Porsche driver, he managed his position and then survived a late race restart and a one-lap dash to the line to claim his fifth win of the season.
Hedge finished second however it was a key pass by Max Vidau that has delivered this weekend’s title showdown between he and Walls.
Vidau sliced his way past Walls on the opening lap of the race, relegating the title leader to fourth place in a decisive move.
Walls was fourth and Alex Davison fifth, with Ryder Quinn continuing his career-best weekend in sixth position.
Fabian Coulthard, Dylan O’Keeffe, Angelo Mouzouris and Bayley Hall completed the top-10.
The race finished two laps early following an accident from Matt Belford at the notorious Turn eight on the fifth lap.
Belford’s ID Group car appeared to touch the inside kerb, which caused him to oversteer into the outside barrier with the resulting impact causing his left rear to depart.
He then spun across the circuit before making relatively light contact with the inside fence, the Victorian emerging unscathed.
That set up the one-lap dash to the line that saw Wood claim the victory and the title battle take another dramatic turn.
Behind that the pulsating Pro-Am battle saw Shahin jump to an early lead, topping Flack and Cook for the opening two laps.
He then dropped behind the pair to finish third, while Flack led home what has now become his main title rival to claim the race win.
Tim Miles recovered to fourth in the Pro-Am class despite contact at turn one that saw him spinning down to the back of the field.
All results remain provisional following several post-race investigations currently underway by Motorsport Australia officials.
The final race of the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be held on Sunday at the VAILO Adelaide 500 and will be shown live on Fox Sports 506, Kayo and the Seven Network around Australia.