Shapkaris dominates WA State Speed Series double round
Wednesday 10 April, 2024
Photos: Sports Pixx Photography
Rhyan Shapkaris charged to the top of the Motorsport Australia WA State Speed Event Series after winning both rounds at Collie Motorplex on the weekend.
More than 70 competitors were entered in the double round at the popular circuit, with one round running on the long course, and the other held on the short.
While Shapkaris comfortably took both wins, the RJS Phoenix driver was aided by lots of attrition throughout the day – some of which took place before the event even began.
First it was contenders, Cosi Sorgiovanni and Phillip Morley, who were some of the ones to withdraw after practice, before round one winner Tom Hamlett eventually withdrew without running a single lap on Saturday.
Following on from the event, Shapkaris was pleased to have won both rounds, but missed the tight competition.
“Not how I wanted to win both days on the weekend with both Phil and Cosi having issues on the Friday and withdrawing,” Shapkaris said.
“I came into the weekend with a goal to set personal bests on both tracks after doing some suspension changes after round 1 and I did but it may have come at a small cost with hurting the engine on my PB lap but I’ll see when I pull it down.”
Finishing less than a second behind was Robin Mullett in his Nissan Silvia, while Justin O'Hehir rounded out the podium after capitalising on Hammett’s error.
O'Hehir would again be in the thick of the action for the second day of action – as he finished a place higher, and l finished four minutes ahead of second place.
Taking out the final position on the podium was Jensen Herbert, who missed out on edging out O’Hehir by half a second.
The next round will be the Point 2 point, at Carco.com.au Raceway on 4 May.