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AUS: Series Estern Creek Saturday report

KINGSLEYS STREAK ENDS AT NINE AS SVEN TAKES RACE ONE MATTHEW KINGSLEY'S incredible streak of nine consecutive Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series presented by Mission Foods race wins has come to an end after Sven Burchartz took out race one ...

KINGSLEYS STREAK ENDS AT NINE AS SVEN TAKES RACE ONE

MATTHEW KINGSLEY'S incredible streak of nine consecutive Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series presented by Mission Foods race wins has come to an end after Sven Burchartz took out race one of round five at Eastern Creek on Saturday.

Burchartz, the 2008 series champion, won his first race of the season in stunning style though the results remain provisional after a controversial incident with Kingsley mid-way through the nine-lap affair.

Kingsley had started the race fourth but made quick work through the field to battle his Victorian rival for the lead.

The series leader and defending champion made his move on lap four and believed he was past and into a clear lead before the pair made contact that saw Kingsley's car spearing off the circuit.

The incident will be reviewed by event stewards prior to race two on Sunday morning.

Though he finished an eventful eighth place, it was a day to forget for Kingsley after a high-speed off in Qualifying damaged the front aerodynamics of his car and restricted him to his lowest starting position of the season.

"It was just one of those days," said Kingsley.

"I had a big off at turn one in qualifying and that damaged the front of the car so we struggled for front grip in qualifying. The race was going well and I was past Sven but we made contact at turn one and I spun."

The dramas started earlier than that as pole sitter Jon Trende was penalised for rolling at the start.

The late afternoon race ensured that the bright sun was directly in drivers' eyes, leaving race officials no option but to start the race with the national flag and the regular lights.

Trende said that it didn't help his cause as his pole position turned into a 14th place finish.

"It was impossible to see the lights or the flag and I was trying to hold my hand up to block the sun," Trende said.

"I saw a flicker of something, thought it was the light and let the car roll. I realised it wasn't the light and stopped the car before it went out but it was too late.

"I don't think I've driven a better race - but it was to 14th. Not happy."

Whilst Trende recovered though the field and Burchartz led it, a massive dice for second was being fought between Roger Lago, Jeff Bobik and Terry Knight.

The trio ran nose to tail for a majority of the race before Lago and Bobik both ran wide at turn two whilst side-by-side and fighting for position, allowing an ecstatic Knight through into a career-best second place.

"When you're racing guys of that quality you lift as a driver," Knight beamed after his storming drive from sixth on the grid.

"It was a fantastic race and the new car is fantastic, really crisp. I took the opportunities when I could and got Roger and Jeff when they ran off so I'm pretty pleased."

997 drivers Shaun Juniper and Shane Smollen charged to fifth and sixth positions, respectively, after starting at the rear of the grid whilst Sydney Porsche regular Anthony Skinner took his 1999-specification Class A 996 GT3 to an outstanding seventh.

Kingsley, John Morriss and South Australian John Goodacre completed the top ten.

The day was also far from incident free for friends and families of competitors, too, after Matt Kingsley's Mum Sandra accidentally fell in pit lane just prior to qualifying.

Mrs Kingsley suffered a badly broken right wrist that will require surgery and was taken to hospital - though she ensured she was back at the circuit in time for the start of race one.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series presented by Mission Foods wishes Sandra all the best in her recovery.

Two races will complete the round on Sunday to wrap up the penultimate event of the series.

-source: pcc aus

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