Hill climb three-peat for Amos

Photos: MSI Media

East Lismore’s Dean Amos has secured his third-straight SupaService Tyre and Auto Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Championship, clocking the outright win following a sublime run on the final day of action at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in South Australia.

Amos, driving the Gould GR55b, blew the competition out of the water on the 1.9km section of the venue’s East Course with a supreme seventh run on Sunday amounting to 43.33 seconds, beating the next quickest driver, 2022 Champion Dean Tighe and his Empire, by more than two seconds (45.60 seconds).

The win for Amos adds to his illustrious track record in the discipline, following on from Motorsport Australia Hill Climb Championship wins in 2024 and 2023. It also marks the first time a competitor has won three years in a row since Malcolm Oastler accomplished the feat from 2014 to 2016.

Amos’ weekend was solid throughout, nailing a 45.19 seconds climb to open Saturday before curtailing his time down to 44.18 on run three, the quickest time on Day 1. His performance on Day 2 also claimed him a class win in the Formula Libre (d) 2001cc and over category.

Eventual runner up, Tighe had a strong weekend despite not claiming the outright win. The Queenslander was timed over 48 seconds just once over his seven runs, ultimately clocking his fastest run on his final attempt.

Fellow Queenslander Warwick Hutchinson rounded out the outright podium in the OMS28, finishing a fastest run of 47 seconds flat during his sixth of eight attempts.

In the Time Attack (d) Open 4WD class, tin-top ace and South Australia local Dan Day could only complete one Sunday run after the SJ1000 was sidelined. However, his 51.08 climb from Day 1 proved enough to clinch the Open 4WD Time Attack crown.

Douglas Johnson (Subaru GC8), Damien Brand (Subaru STI) and Mirko Grbic (Mitsubishi Evo 7) all lifted their pace on Sunday, with standout laps of 52.38, 53.40 and 53.71 respectively.

Phil Heafey sealed the 3D Sports Sedan 4WD title with 53.92 seconds. Just one one-hundredth of a second separated Matthew Brown’s Audi TT from Nick Streckeisen’s GTR heading into the shootout. Both went quicker, but the Audi’s 54.47 seconds edged out the GTR’s 54.50 to claim victory.

The 2A Sports Cars (c) 2001–4000cc battle was equally close, with Todd Carruthers pipping Sean Day.

Julian Newton held firm in the 3C Rally Cars AWD division, his Evo fending off a spirited WRX challenge of Russell Greenham. Martin Farkas took out the 3C Rally Cars 2L+ trophy, delighting the crowd with his BMW M3.

In 2B/2F Production Sports 3L+, Jason Perkins stopped the clock at 56.90 seconds in his Lotus Exige.

Time Attack stalwart Stanley Gong saved his best for last, hustling his Evo to a Clubsprint 4WD win from Oliver Taylor’s Audi.

Tim Possingham was untouchable in Limited Modified 4L+, steering his McLaren to a tidy 57.91.

In Limited Modified 2L–4L, Alex Pavlenko produced a clutch final run in his Golf R to edge Wesley Craill’s WRX.

Young gun Charlie Evans not only achieved his goal of outpacing his dad, but also secured the 3J Improved Production 3L–6L crown and Fastest Junior honours in his Commodore.

Among the juniors, Magnus Poole’s Excel, Max Viitanen’s Commodore and Jackson Sullivan’s Excel put on a spirited fight for the podium.

Fletcher Bolton finally delivered in his V8 MX-5, storming to the 2A Sports Cars 4L+ victory.

Of the two EV contenders, Mike Poljonker’s Kia outpaced David Sargent’s Hyundai. In Road Cars 2L–4L, Greg Keene and his impressive GT4 RS were in a league of their own, finishing with a 59.24 seconds.

The 1.6L–2L Road Car title went to Nathan Apps’ Honda, while Carl Smith’s Civic took the honours in the under 1.6L class.

A tight contest unfolded in 3D Sports Sedans 3L–6L, where Matthew Evans (Commodore) and Glen Latter (RX7) both set personal bests on their final attempts. Evans’ 60.07 seconds narrowly beat Latter’s 60.11 seconds to claim the win.

Eight women tackled the course across the weekend, but it was in the second-last run where each of the competitors shone.

Emma Branum topped the group with a superb run in her WRX Rally Car, while Tania Langcake’s striking purple GC8 was timed close behind.

For full results, visit the Motorsport Australia’s Hill Climb Championship website.

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