Perth Australian GT: Major takes Race 2 honours
Lamborghini driver Pete Major cruised to victory in today’s second one-hour Australian GT Championship race at Barbagallo Raceway.
Photo by: GrandPrix Media
The West Aussie was unstoppable on his home circuit, jumping from the back end of the Top 10 to second with a short compulsory pitstop time before executing his second stint to perfection to beat the Ash Walsh/James Koundouris and Kelvin van der Linde/Geoff Emery Audis.
It took almost 15 minutes for the race to really get underway thanks to a first-lap shunt. Geoff Emery and Tony Walls got together on the run through the esses, Walls ending up turned around before being clipped by Scott Taylor.
The pair were out on the spot, and half of the first stint was soaked up by the resulting Safety Car.
The race finally got going right on the 15-minute mark, polesitter Liam Talbot streaking into the distance ahead of Max Twigg and Fraser Ross. The Walkinshaw Porsche driver controlled the remainder of the first stint, but couldn’t quite do enough to offset his compulsory pitstop time, heading to the lane with around five seconds up his sleeve.
It was Bates who emerged from the round of stops in front thanks to a short CPS time, leading Major, Twigg, and Talbot as the second stint came to life. The Mercedes driver’s lead didn’t last long, though, Major slipping past down the hill with 21 minutes to go.
From there it was a trouble-free run for the West Aussie, who cruised to his second AGT race win of the season.
Behind the winner it was a frantic second stint. Having taken over the #44 Audi from Koundouris, Walsh went from fifth to second inside the last 15 minutes. It started with a move on Talbot for fourth, before easing his way past Twigg to grab third with 10 minutes to go. Two laps later he passed Bates to secure second spot.
Van der Linde followed Walsh through, a bit of good luck in the form of Bates running wide with six minutes to go meaning the factory Audi driver could make the last two spots in the space of a few hundred metres.
Bates held off Twigg to grab fourth, while Race 1 winner Talbot came home fifth to extend his points lead over Roger Lago, who wound up down in 11th.
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