Melbourne based Aston Martin driver John Kaias has taken his maiden round victory and two race wins at round 4 of the Australian GT Championship held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Circuit (July 12-13) at the weekend.
Sharing the spoils with victories in the GT Challenge and GT Production categories were Greg Ward in his Porsche GT3 Cup car and Tim Poulton in his Lotus Elise. In practice, returnee driver to the Championship Peter Hackett aboard the Team Aston Martin DBRS9 was fastest in session 1 while in session 2 it was John Kaias that headed the time sheets in his ABCOR sponsored ‘James Bond’ machine.
Unfortunately Dave Stevens (Ferrari 430) made heavy contact with the wall at turn 9 with the damage putting him out of action for the remainder of the meeting. In qualifying in the Championship class it was Kaiais (Aston Martin DBRS9) who was fastest with a time of 1:32.6506 followed by the ever impressive Peter Lucas in the Urban Arrangement Lotus Elise just .6098 seconds in arrears.
Third fastest was Peter Hacket (Aston Martin DBRS9) followed by Mark Eddy in the Quaterback sponsored Lamborghini Gallardo. Heading the times in the Challenge ranks was Richard Kimber in the Drivebathurst.com Porsche GT3 996 Club followed by Nick O’Halloran in the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 430 and Graeme Cook driving the Koala Furniture/Racemoves Porsche GT3 RSR.
Race 1 was a thrilling affair with Peter Lucas taking a spectacular victory (his first ever) in the Lotus Elise from the Aston Martins of Peter Hackett and John Kaiais. Lucas crossed the line .835 seconds in front of Hackett. Mark Eddy (Lamborghini Gallardo), Ross Lilley (Lamborghini Gallardo) and Scott Bargwanna (Lotus Elise) completed the top 6 placings.
In the GT Challenge division victory went to Graeme Cook (Porsche GT3 RSR) followed by Greg Ward (Porsche GT3 Cup Car) and Richard Kimber (Porsche GT3 996 Clubsport).
Race 2 saw John Kaias (Aston Martin DBRS9) take the race win from Peter Lucas (Lotus Elise) with Mark Eddy (Lamborghini Gallardo) third followed by Peter ckett (Aston Martin DBRS9), Scott Bargwanna (Lotus Elise), Ross Lilley (Lamborghini Gallardo), and John Teulan’s Ferrari 430.The GT Challenge win was taken by Greg Ward (Porsche GT3 Cup Car), followed by Anthony Kosseris (Porsche GT3 Cup Car), and Mark Krashos (Porsche GT3 Cup Car).
Race 3 was another fantastic event with victory going to Kaiais in the Aston Martin followed by the Lotus Elise of Peter Lucas with Ross Lilley in the Lamborghini Gallardo. Peter Hackett (Aston Martin), Mark Eddy (Lamborghini Gallardo) and Scott Bargwanna (Lotus Elise) rounded out the top six.
Graeme Cook (Porsche GT3 RSR) took his second GT Challenge win for the weekend followed by Greg Ward (Porsche GT3 Cup Car), Richard Kimber (Porsche GT3 996 Club) and Mark Krashos (Porsche GT3 Cup Car). Tim Poulton’s Lotus Exige S completed two of the three races in the GT Production division with the NSW driver recoding a fastest lap of 1:42.3524 in race 1.