The 2023 Motorsport Australia WA Motorkhana Championship kicked off on the weekend with Scott Bennett taking out the first victory of the year.
A healthy field of 38 competitors were entered in the season opener at CARCO.com.au Raceway, however it was a familiar two who battled it out for top honours throughout the day.
With 12 tests making up the season opener, Bennett ultimately took out the win over defending champion Jim Newell by just 10 and half seconds.
Bennett was on a mission having missed out on the title last year and was in complete control right from the start - with 11 consecutive test wins in a row.
Newell would eventually claim his first win on the day on the 12th and final test, but it was purely a consolation prize as he took out the test by just eight tenths of a second.
While Newell finished second to only Bennet on most occasions, there were a handful of tests that proved pivotal in their battle, where the defending champion posted the third or fourth fastest time.
The other contenders who occasionally got the better of Newell were Gavin Turner, Amy Bennett and Ross Bennett – all of whom made up the top five.
Despite a number of minor victories over the experienced campaigner, the trio still finished a fair way off the runner-up in Newell, with the third placed Turner a further 24 seconds off.
A further 19 seconds off in fourth was Amy, who also won the Ladies class, while Ross finished in fifth five seconds off Amy.
A pair of Class victors finished just outside the top five with Class A winner David Elliot finishing in sixth place and Class B winner Jurgen Lunsmann in seventh overall.
Other notable winners from the event included Class D winner Michael Brewer and Class C winner Declan Stace - both of whom finished 13th and 14th respectively.
Stace also comfortably came away with fastest junior honours after his closest fellow rival was the 17th placed Eloise Meehan, whilst James Bennett was third in the juniors and 19th overall.
Meehan ended up with two podiums for the day after she also finished third out of the women, with Amy Bennett taking out top honours ahead of the second placed Marie Andersson in 10th overall.
Click here for full results.
The next round of the Motorsport Australia WA Motorkhana Championship takes place at Albany Airport on Saturday 3 June.