26 November 2017 |

JOHNSON ROCKETS TO SERIES LEAD

 

STEVE JOHNSON has stormed to the top of the Touring Car Masters standings thanks to a victory in the 250th TCM race this morning in Newcastle.

Adam Bressington had crossed the line first however was penalised by race control officials after being judged to have been out of position on the rolling start.

Starting from the outside of the front row Bressington got the jump on pole sitter Ryan Hansford on the run into turn one pulling away on the run up hill to turn two on the opening lap to build a clear margin.

Steven Johnson meanwhile muscled his way past title rival John Bowe on the run downhill in a thrilling side-by-side battle past Newcastle’s iconic Fort Scratchley.

He then passed Hansford on the sixth lap to elevate himself into a provisional championship lead by three points heading into the final 12-lap race to be held on Sunday afternoon.

Johnson set out after Bressington however was unable to catch the flying Whiteline Racing Camaro though was elevated ahead after Bressington was penalised.

As such Johnson leads by just three points with just one race to go.

Behind the two leaders Hansford finished second to record his fifth podium of the season.

The Multispares Torana held out a concerted race-long attack from John Bowe but was able to fend off the advances of the former championship leader who was unable to make any headway throughout the race.

Bressington was ultimately classifed fourth after his penalty but remains in championship calculations just 29 points behind the leader.

The Whiteline Racing driver did however seal the ProAm titlen

Bruce Williams finished an outstanding fifth and finished on the tail of Hansford and Bowe in an all-Torana battle for the final spot on the podium.

Cameron Mason followed the ACDelco car home in sixth to record his best result of the season in front of local friends and family.

Jason Gomersall was seventh while Tony Karanfilovski Cameron Tilley and Brad Tilley completed the top-10 – the Tilley Brothers battling for much of the race.

Jim Pollicina and Gavin Bullas both failed to finish.

The final race of the 2017 TCM season will be held at 1:45pm local time and will be shown on both FOX Sports 506 and Channel 10.

*Results are provisional.

NEWCASTLE – RACE 1

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Pos Car  Competitor/Team                Driver                   Vehicle              Cap   CL Laps     Race.Time Fastest...Lap1    17  WM Waste / Illusion Gas Log Fi Steve Johnson (QLD)      Ford Mustang Fastbac            12    15:56.3006   2 1:18.3988R2     6  Multispares Racing             Ryan Hansford (QLD)      Holden Torana SL R              12    15:57.9333  12 1:18.7154 3    18  Wilson Security / PAYCE        John Bowe (VIC)          Holden Torana SL R              12    15:58.1069   4 1:18.5556 4    95  Whiteline Racing / Fabre Austr Adam Bressington (NSW)   Chevrolet Camaro SS             12    15:58.9257   3 1:18.5601 5     5  ACDelco                        Bruce Williams (VIC)     Holden Torana SL R              12    15:59.2785   7 1:18.8050 6     3  F3 Motor Auctions / Lucky's Ho Cameron Mason (NSW)      Ford Mustang Fastbac            12    16:10.1311  10 1:19.5404 7    35  Bigmate Racing                 Jason Gomersall (QLD)    Holden Torana A X Ha            12    16:18.8708   9 1:20.3471 8    88  TIFS - Warehousing & Distribut Tony Karanfilovski (NSW) Ford Mustang Trans A            12    16:20.5089  12 1:19.9741 9    60  Glennan Transport/ANGLOMOIL Lu Cameron Tilley (NSW)     Valiant Pacer                   12    16:23.4252   3 1:20.0013 10   28  Speedgas / Brad Tilley Auto Ga Brad Tilley (NSW)        Ford Falcon XY GT HO            12    16:23.8604   4 1:20.4613 11   85  Whiteline Racing / King Spring Mark King (QLD)          Holden Monaro GTS Co            12    16:24.3274   3 1:20.5090 12   74  Lyndways Builders              Wayne Mercer (VIC)       Ford Falcon XY GT HO            12    16:41.6577  10 1:21.6854 13   29  Burrells Soils & Sand / Brad T Jamie Tilley (NSW)       Ford Mustang Coupe              12    16:43.1107  10 1:21.5794 14    2  Shannons Insurance             Jim Richards (VIC)       Ford Falcon Sprint              12    16:43.7248  10 1:21.7517 15   72  GFR Industries                 Geoff Fane (QLD)         Chevrolet Camaro SS             12    16:44.0971   3 1:22.1848 16    4  Skye Sands                     Rusty French (VIC)       Ford Mustang Fastbac            12    16:46.2265   6 1:21.8651 17   65  Cannon Trailers                Michael Cannon (QLD)     Ford Falcon XY GT HO            12    16:47.2262   5 1:22.1260 18   46  THD Motorsport                 Leo Tobin (VIC)          Ford Boss Mustang               12    16:48.1759   6 1:21.8825 19   19  Tincone Industrial Services    Darren Beale (QLD)       Holden Monaro GTS Co            12    17:13.1786   5 1:23.7459 20    7  Wisely Motorsport              Bob Wisely (QLD)         Holden Torana A X               11    16:57.7928   2 1:26.4226 DNF  27  MOCOMM Motorsport Communicatio Jim Policina (NSW)       Holden Monaro GTS Co             9    12:47.0470   5 1:21.7335 DNF  16  Carne Grill / Precinct Bar     Gavin Bullas (VIC)       Ford Mustang Fastbac             5     7:09.9195   4 1:20.5337