The V8 Utes championship is on the line. So Saturday morning’s Qualifying session in the season finale at Hampton Downs was all-important for the front runners in securing a prime grid position for the afternoon’s race – and the opportunity to move ahead in the championship.
Photo Credits: @dillonphotonz
Brad Kroef set the pace early in the session, reeling off consistently quick laps. That was until Alex Fougere found some clear track and sprinted away to post the fastest time mid-session. Kyan Davie picked up where he left off last round slotting into 3rd fastest, narrowly pipping Greg Kroef relegating the P & I Pascoe Ford ute to 4th.
Sporting fresh bodywork after his bruising Round Three mishaps, Simon Ussher managed 5th fastest. Similarly Daniel Ludlam’s perfect panels aided his progress to 6th fastest.
It didn’t all go to plan for Phill Ross. After his recent run of fine form, Phill’s hot Holden was hampered by a throttle issue. But the C & R Construction crew are so good, we all knew they’d fix the issue in time for Race One in the afternoon. And they did.
So as Alex Fougere lined up on the front row for Race One mid-afternoon, he knew what was at stake. Currently 3rd in the championship, there were just a few points separating him from 2nd, but points leader Brad Kroef wasn’t about to make life easy.
Alex got the Ward Demolition Holden ute away to a good start ahead of Brad Kroef, Greg Kroef snuck ahead of Kyan Davie but it didn’t last long.
As the laps unfolded, it was a dogfight between Alex and Brad; at times trading places but fortunately not paintwork. Brad slipped down the inside of Alex at the dipper on lap two, only to have Alex regain the lead by the next turn. Meanwhile at the back of the field, Phill Ross was rapidly moving into contention. After starting plumb last, he began picking off the back markers; his engine’s throttle finally moving in harmony with his right foot.
By lap two, Phill had moved up to sixth and was challenging Simon Ussher for fifth. Ahead, Greg Kroef was holding off Kyan Davie; a position he was finally to relinquish on Lap Six.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ludlam’s Holden ute lost its spark as an errant battery lead revolted, relegating him to the back of the field. Then as the Super V8s began lapping the utes, Bruce McRae hit Jeremy Hunt causing him to spin at the dipper on lap three and his grip on 7th place went up in smoke - tyre smoke.
Alex Fougere held the lead all the way to the chequered flag with Brad Kroef a heartbeat away in 2nd. But what is really interesting is the championship points battle. Brad Kroef maintains the lead by a slim 3 points ahead of Alex Fougere who has moved up to 2nd with Greg Kroef slipping to 3rd Just as interesting is the battle in the midfield with minor placings up for grabs as Kyan Davie has come storming through the field. Roll on Race Two Sunday morning.
Qualifying | |
Alex Fougere | 1.16.848 |
Brad Kroef | 1.17.002 |
Kyan Davie | 1.17.008 |
Greg Kroef | 1.17.264 |
Simon Ussher | 1.17.592 |
Daniel Ludlam | 1.17.761 |
Paul Fougere | 1.18.075 |
Stuart Monteith | 1.18.690 |
Jeremy Hunt | 1.18.764 |
Blair Gribble-Bowing | 1.18771 |
Bruce McRae | 1.19.864 |
Phill Ross | 1.45.359 |
Race One | |
Alex Fougere |
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Brad Kroef | +0.911 |
Kyan Davie | +1.638 |
Greg Kroef | +5.535 |
Phill Ross | +7.433 |
Simon Ussher | +9.003 |
Stuart Monteith | +16.429 |
Paul Fougere | +17.211 |
Blair Gribble-Bowing | +17.655 |
Bruce McRae |
|
Jeremy Hunt |
|
Daniel Ludlam |
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