Bryce Washington gave up 4 points to Simonsen in the Championship points race
Courtesy of the Australian GT Championship
John Bowe, has succeeded in making it two rounds wins out of two by taking victory at the CompliSpace Round 6 of the 2007 Australian GT Championship held at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains circuit at the weekend (September 1-2).
Driving the Team Lamborghini Australia Gallardo GT3, Bowe was fastest in qualifying with a time of 52.5670 seconds putting him some half a second ahead of second fastest qualifier Bryce Washington (NATRAD Lamborghini Gallardo GT3), followed by David Wall (World of Learning Porsche GT3 RSR), Allan Simonsen (Sirena Racing Ferrari 430) who had a big moment coming into turn 1 that ended his session prematurely, and Ian Palmer (Palmer Steel Industries Lamborghini Gallardo GT3).
In Race 1 Bowe took the win from Simonsen, followed by Bryce Washington who posted the fastest time of the 22 lap race by stopping the clocks at 52.5247 seconds. Wall took fourth place ahead of fellow Porsche drivers Damien Flack (Porsche GT3 Cup Car), Sven Burchartz (Porsche GT3), and Paul Tresidder with an excellent dr e (Porsche GT3 Cup Car).
In 8th position was the rapidly improving Angelo Lazaris in the Zagame Lotus entered Exige GT3 ahead of Ross Lilley (Porsche GT3 R), Peter Lucas (Lotus Elise), and Jon Trende (Porsche GT3 Cup Car).
Ian Palmer suffered a jammed gearbox in his Lamborghini Gallardo and unfortunately took no further part in the meeting. Race two again saw Bowe greet the chequered flag first, but this time it was Simonsen who took second place with Washington in third and Wall fourth.
Fifth position went to Jon Trende, with Paul Tresidder in sixth followed by Lazaris who improved on his first race finish with a seventh. Fastest lap of the race again went Washington with a time of 52.9954 seconds.
A big accident involving Sven Burchartz (Porsche GT3) and Damien Flack (Porsche GT3 Cup) took both competitors out of the race with considerable damage done to the Burchartz Sonic Motor Racing machine.
Burchartz had to retire from the meeting but has vowed to be back for the next round at Oran Park in a lease car.
Race three also turned out to be a torrid affair with victory going to David Wall followed by Bryce Washington, Allan Simonsen, John Bowe with Lazaris going even better again to finish in fifth.
The action packed race saw an incident between Bowe’s Lamborghini and Tresidder’s Porsche and then fairly heavy contact between Simonsen Ferrari and Bowe that resulted in a Steward’s hearing.
Bowe also had a spin in the event, but recorded the fastest lap with a time of 52.9446 seconds. Final outright positions for the round were: Bowe, Simonsen, Wall, and Washington, while in the Porsche Drivers Challenge the round win went Tresidder for his maiden victory, followed by Trende, and Lilley.
The 2007 Australian GT Championship travel’s to Sydney’s Oran Park circuit for the CompliSpace Round 7 of the Series to be held on November 3-4. All the action from Round 6 Symmons Plains will be on Channel 9 Speed Machine Saturday 15th September at 11.30am (check local guides). SBS Speed Week and Fox Sports time will be on the GT website when available.
GT OUTIGHT ROUND RESULTS
John Bowe (104)
Allan Simonsen (92)
David Wall (88)
Bryce Washington (88)
Paul Tresidder (61)
PDC OUTRIGHT ROUND RESULTS
Paul Tresidder (98)
Jon Trende (86)
Ross Lilley (85)
Damien Flack (69)
Sven Burchartz (32)
2007 Australian GT Championship Results (After 6 of 8 rounds)
4 Allan Simonsen Ferrari 430 574
54 Bryce Washington Lamborghini Gallardo 545
38 David Wall Porsche GT3 RSR 501
19 Damien Flack Porsche GT3 Cup Car 295
99 Peter Lucas Lotus Elise 284.5
2007 Porsche Drivers Challenger Points (After 5 of 8 rounds)
19 Damien Flack Porsche GT3 Cup Car 466
90 Sven Burchartz Porsche GT3 411
23 Paul Tresidder Porsche GT3 Cup Car 354.5
18 Max Twigg Porsche GT3 Cup Car 332.5
51 Ross Lilley Porsche GT3 R 275
Visit the Championship web site at www.gtchampionship.com.au