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BIG MATE BREAKTHROUGH FOR JASON GOMERSALL
JASON GOMERSALL has finally broken through for his first Paynter Dixon Touring Car Masters race victory.
The BigMate Racing Holden Torana A9X driver had been a top three finisher on nine separate occasions before today’s 15-lap Dometic TCM Trophy Race at Symmons Plains but held out a charging Paul Freestone to grab the flag first today.
Gomersall started from pole position however his path to victory was far from easy fending off early challenges from Cameron Tilley and then Andrew Fisher before Freestone took up the charge for a majority of the race.
The pair battled on the final lap with Gomersall defending heavily into the hairpin setting up a drag-race down the back straight into turn six.
With the inside line the Torana was able to hold out the Camaro to edge out a remarkable victory by less than a car length.
“Was that race 50 laps?†Gomersall smiled afterwards. “Because it sure felt like it.â€Â
“It’s a great feeling. It was a bloody hard race but it’s awesome to finally break through. Cameron was there early then the Jesus Racing car and then the purple thing turned up.
“It was a hard race with Paul but it was very clean.
“I went a bit too defensive at the hairpin on the final lap and had to make sure I committed on the inside into turn six at the end of the back straight.
“I was able to hold on.. and it’s awesome.â€Â
Freestone’s second place was his best ever TCM race finish while Bowe once again stormed from the back however could not progress further than third as the two leaders furiously battled.
Leo Tobin finished an outstanding fourth after a quiet race Adam Bressington behind him in fifth.
Steve Johnson battled braking issues with his Ford Mustang that saw him a quiet sixth while Cameron Tilley started from pole but slipped to the back early in the race after a strange technical issue briefly slowed the flying Pacer.
Ryan Hansford failed to finish with another issue with the right-front corner of his Torana while Jim Pollicina was a spectacular retiree after an apparent power steering failure on his similar SL/R 5000.
Andrew Fisher also failed to finish with further oil line issues on the Jesus Racing Ford.
Race four of the championship proper continues this afternoon with John Bowe and Steven Johnson starting from the front row of the grid at 14:50pm today.
The race will be shown live on FOX Sports 506.
TCM TROPHY RACE – TASMANIA
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Race.Time Fastest...Lap1 35 Bigmate Racing Jason Gomersall Holden Torana A9X Ha 5000 15 14:41.1000 2 0:58.0826 2 25 Maxi-Trans Trailers Paul Freestone Chevrolet Camaro 5800 15 14:41.4232 5 0:57.3154 3 18 Wilson Security / PAYCE John Bowe Holden Torana SL/R 5 5000 15 14:42.0220 2 0:57.1844*4 46 THD Motorsport Leo Tobin Ford Boss Mustang 5000 15 14:42.9572 7 0:57.7459 5 95 Whiteline Racing / Fabre Austr Adam Bressington Chevrolet Camaro SS 5800 15 14:43.7173 14 0:57.4930 6 17 WM Waste / Herrod Performance Steve Johnson Ford Mustang Fastbac 5800 15 14:44.5399 7 0:57.5893 7 60 Glennan Transport / ANGLOMOIL Cameron Tilley Valiant Pacer 4390 15 14:49.5119 8 0:58.0157 8 85 Whiteline Racing / King Spring Mark King Chevrolet Camaro RS 5800 15 14:51.7336 8 0:57.9370 DNF 6 Multispares Racing Ryan Hansford Holden Torana SL/R 5 5000 9 8:56.0159 8 0:57.7304 DNF 38 Leon Bell Automotive / Port So Leon Bell Holden Monaro GTS Co 5800 9 9:38.8123 2 1:02.2024 DNF 9 Jesus Racing Andrew Fisher Ford Falcon XY GT HO 5800 7 15:07.1941 2 0:58.1621 DNF 27 MOCOMM Motorsport Communicatio Jim Policina Holden Torana A9X 5000 2 2:04.9200 2 0:59.9689
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