The CAMS Australian GT Endurance has seen a dramatic conclusion its second round at Barbagallo Raceway as part of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship .
Each race had a different driver claim maximum points, including reigning championship Geoff Emery who eventually won the round ahead of 2018 Endurance champion Max Twigg and Peter Hackett.
It wasn’t easy for Emery, who went into the round in fifth place after a disappointing season opener in Albert Park, however a win in the final race to add to his two runner-ups in the previous two races sealed his victory.
Despite Emery taking out a much-needed win in the final race, it was the two previous race winners who had impressed the most throughout the weekend, with Peter Major and Ryan How grabbing a victory apiece.
How’s win in the first race in particular was quite impressive. Driving in the trophy class the teenager managed to beat all the Championship drivers to claim his first career race win the Championship.
A third place to the Victorian in the second race, which Major beat Emery to claim the win, further enhanced How’s growing reputation as a future champion.
In the final race of the weekend, it was Major and How who were battling for top spot and the tussle became too much for Major as his Lamborghini R-EX’s toe-link failed, forcing him to make his way back into the pits.
With Major out, How was able to continue his charge to win his first round in the CAMS Australian GT Championship when disaster struck.
Only seconds remained in the race when How’s Audi suffered a mechanical failure sending him into the tyre barrier and out of the race.
How’s heartbreaking retirement opened up the door to Emery who cruised to his first win of the weekend, ultimately handing him the victory.
“I drove the wheels off the car this weekend to get where we were, so I’m rapt to get a result,” Emery said.
“We didn’t have a strong weekend at the GP, that was not a strong track for our car, but I’m hoping we’ll continue turning that around at Phillip Island.
“Obviously we turned that around this weekend and hopefully we can continue that momentum through.
“I feel really bad for Ryan. He drove really well this weekend, and in an older car, so I really feel bad about that.
“It’s good points for us, we worked as a team with Ryan all weekend sharing data and things like that, it’s a shame to end up like that.”
The retirement to both drivers them tumble down the outright and class results as How eventually placed third in the Trophy Series behind Dale Paterson and Richard Gartner, while Major finished last in the Championship.
A clean sweep in the Trofeo Challenge to Nick Karnaros saw Porsche 911 GT3 Cup driver extend his lead over Jim Manolios in the overall standings.
In the GT4 class, M Motorsport’s Justin McMillan and Glen Wood took a clean sweep over the class with David Crampton coming in second.
The CAMS Australian GT Championship has a one month break before heading to the Shannons Nationals in Phillip Island for the first Australian Endurance Championship on June 7-8.