Malcolm Oastler has taken out his fourth national Hillclimb title in five years after a dominant display during the 2018 CAMS Australian Hillclimb Championship at Bryant Park in Victoria. 

Oastler was brilliant on the final day of competition, claiming the fastest time out of the 96-strong field in every run before saving his best until last to grab the fastest time of the weekend and breaking Bryant Park’s all time record in the process. 

With a time of 43.10 seconds, Oastler sat out of the remain heats as his closest title rivals in defending champion Brett Hayward and 2013 champion Greg Ackland had two last attempts to reduce their times and close in on him. 

Despite their best efforts, both drivers were unable to reach Oastler with Hayward taking out second thanks to his time of 43.95, making him the only other driver to break the 44 second mark.

Oastler’s win puts him one major title ahead of Hayward, with the New South Welshman thrilled with his performance after overcoming a slow start in the opening days of the Championship.  

“Winning here today was great because it was a came here to do and it all worked out in the end,” Oastler said. 

“Bit of surprise to be honest I thought after this morning’s run and two years ago, I  thought that it was possible to get into the high 33 mark but once I put the new tyres on I didn’t realise I would get so high. 

“I wasn’t quick on Friday and I have no idea why, but I rolled out yesterday it was all good and with the new tyres, here we are as now as the Australian champion, it’s really good.”

While Ackland was unable to close down Hayward or in Sunday’s remaining runs, he comfortably secured third ahead of eventual fourth placed Dean Tighe and Garry Martin who rounded out the top five. 

The weekend was wrapped up with an entertaining shootout which saw the top-ten all competing for a seperate cash prize. 

With Oastler, Hayward and Ackland all choosing to enjoy the shootout from the stand, Tighe and Martin were looking to leave Bryant Park with some form of silverware for themselves. 

It wasn’t to be however, as outright ninth Peter Minaham managed to edge past all the six drivers above him and win the shootout in a dramatic fashion. 

“It feels very good, I managed to fluke it two years ago so there must be something about racing for money instead of for the fastest time,” Minaham joked. 

The CAMS Australian Hillclimb Championship was hosted by the Gippsland Car Club for the fourth time in history with next year’s Hillclimb championship’s date and location yet to be released. 

A photo gallery of the event can be viewed here.