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John Bowe made his
mark in the best possible way upon returning to the
Australian GT Championship for Round 5 at Victoria's Phillip
Island circuit last weekend.
Driving the
Consolidated Chemical sponsored and Ted Huglan owned
Lamborghini Gallardo GT3, Bowe repeated his efforts set at
the Phillip Island GT round last year by take pole position
and all three race wins for a near perfect weekend.
The only 'prize'
that eluded Bowe was a new lap record for the GT Category,
and he was only seemingly beaten for that achievement by a
wet track on Sunday having qualified on Saturday 1.1101
seconds under the existing record set by Paul Stokell in
2003.
In the three races
Bowe was followed across the line by Mark Eddy (Lamborghini
Gallardo) and John Kaias (Aston Martin DBRS9) in the
Championship category. Regrettably the field was reduced at
the front following engine issues for both Ross Lilley
(Lamborghini Gallardo) and Peter Hackett (Aston Martin
DBRS9). Peter Lucas (Lotus) was also side-lined as was John
Teulan (Ferrari 430) who spun in oil deposited on the track
by the Lucas car. Thankfully neither driver was seriously
injured in the incident and both have been released from
hospital, but Teulan has suffered a broken leg.
The competition was
fierce all weekend in both the GT Challenge and Production
divisions with Richard Kimber (Porsche GT3 996 Clubsport)
and Garth Walden (Lotus Elise) taking the round wins
respectively. In GT Challenge Mich ael
Loccisano (Porsche GT3 Cup Car) took second place from
Fraser Kirchner (Porsche GT3 Cup Car) in third place, while
in GT Production it was Beric Lynton (BMW M3) in second for
the round followed by Tim Poulton (Lotus Exige S).
In race 1 the order
across the line after Bowe, Eddy and Kaias was Nick
O'Halloran (Ferrari 430), Kimber (Porsche), Kim Burke
(Porsche), and Michael Loccisano (Porsche). Race 2 was a
dramatic affair with the field forced to pit for wet weather
tyres, and after the trio of Bowe, Eddy and Kaias again
carved their way through to the front it was Garth Wald en
(Lotus) who finished a magnificent 4th across the line
followed by Loccisano (Porsche) and Beric Lynton (BMW M3).
Keith Wong (Ferrari 360 Challenge) was a DNF following heavy
contact with they tyre wall after having done a great
job
in race 1 where he finished 8th.
In the final race
of the day held under gloomy conditions the Consolidated
Chemical Team had the grid covered with Bowe (Lamborghini
Gallardo) on pole and Ted Huglin (Ferrari 360) starting from
the back of the field as a result of a DNF in race 2. Again
it was Bowe, Eddy and Kaias, and Nick O'Halloran having an
impresive weekend in the Ferrari 430 with Garth Wald en
(Lotus) 5th outright and first in GT Production followed by
Lynton (BMW M3) and Ted Huglin doing a great job from the
rear of the field to finish in 7th. Richard Kimber (Porsche)
finished 8th at the chequered flag and first in GT Challenge
followed by Loccisano (Porsche), Tim
Poulton (Lotus), David Mackie (Lotus), Mark O'Connor
(Lotus), and Fraser Kirchner and Garth Rainsbury, both
driving Porsche GT3 Cup Cars.
Phillip Island
Round Results
GT Championship
1. John Bowe 2.
Mark Eddy 3 John Kaias
GT Challenge
1. Richard Kimber
2, Michael Loccisano 3. Fraser Kirchner
GT Production
1. Garth Walden 2.
Beric Lynton 3. Tim Poulton
OUTRIGHT STANDINGS
AFTER R5:
1. Mark Eddy 355;
2. John Kaias 323.25; 3. Ross Lilley 241.75; 4. Allan
Simonsen 234; 5. Peter Lucas 220.5
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