Competitors in the CAMS South Australian Motor Race Championships have overcome extremely difficult conditions to put on a fantastic display at The Bend Motorsport Park.
With torrential rain hindering qualifying and the first set of races, the 125 entries across five categories were up against more than just the other drivers, with it being a difficult task just to stay on track.
Headlining the five categories - the Wynn's Circuit Excel Cup with 45 cars competing. Asher Johnston ended the weekend with bragging rights after claiming three wins over reigning champion Michael Clemente’s two.
With Virgin Australia Supercars Championship driver Tim Slade also in the mix for round honours, Johnston was thrilled to come away with the win despite the weather.
“It feels really good to win especially on the Sunday because there was nothing it. Even for the final race we were nose to tail for the 10 laps so it was good dice,” Johnstone said.
“It ended up being a really good weekend for the category because there were around 45 entries – the most we have ever had for the series
“As for the weather, Saturday was atrocious for everyone. With the safety car out at the halfway mark, it was even difficult to see first place from third.
“The way the track is being so new, the water just sits on the surface and it made it really difficult to navigate through especially with the track requiring high speed and drivers to be committed.
“It was a weekend where it ended up being survival of the fittest.”
The next biggest field was Formula Vee with the category having 30 drivers entered for the weekend. The category’s main event being the Ben Rebbeck Memorial on Sunday morning, which Michael Kinsella won.
The New South Welshman finished in second place for two of the remaining three races with Dylan Thomas winning a race either side of the Rebbeck Memorial race.
For the category’s final race of the weekend, Tasmanian Wade McLean took out top honours over Joel Oliver and David Caisley with only three tenths of a second separating the three.
In the Saloon Cars and HQ Holdens, Aussie Racing Cars regular Joel Heinrich earned the round victory after picking up three wins from three races on Sunday to surpass Saturday’s winner in Shawn Jamieson.
Like Heinrich, a perfect Sunday from Wareen Neitz saw him claim bragging rights in the Historic Sports and and Racing class as David Benda and Jim Doig shared the spoils with a race win each on the first day of action
The final category of the day, Improved Productions and Sports Cars saw a series of mixed results as Porsche 997 pilot Anthony Giustozzi was the only driver to have multiple wins – claiming the first and fourth race.
Other race winners included Ian Wilson, Panayot Boyaci and Paul Mitolo however all three drivers had one DNF throughout the weekend – ending the chance for round glory.
The next round of the Sporting Car Club of SA’s CAMS South Australian Motor Race Championships will take place at Mallala on 3-4 August