25^th March, 2002

HQ Series

Round One - Oran Park

Stalwart shows the way

Forsaking Saloon Cars and going back to HQs has been a rewarding move for one stalwart of the one-make category.

Charlie D'Aquino has lifted the benchmark for his rivals after four straight wins in the Power Tour HQ Holden supports at Oran Park on the weekend.

 D'Aquino was the class act of the field, his long-time experience a telling factor as he showed the way to aspiring winners. Heading the offering was Roger Emmerton who qualified second fastest.

Race One
As in qualifying, it was D'Aquino first and Emmerton second while Bob Hepburn had the job to do to maintain third ahead of Richard Heur as Natalie Jones and Brett McFarland chased clear of Brett Smith and Rodney Gonzales.

Race Two
After seeing off initial pressure in the second event from Emmerton, D'Aquino was simply too good.

Emmerton then had to fend off Hepburn for the duration of the race while Heur had a tough time of it with McFarland, Jones, Doug Moss and team mates Gonzales and Mulligan in close company.

Race Three
It was even easier for D'Aquino in the third outing as Emmerton was out with mechanical dramas after one lap. And when Hepburn was black flagged for allegedly jumping the start, Heur had a clear run to second place.

Behind him, McFarland was pressured all the way by Mulligan, likewise Jones who held out Moss.

Race Four
Emmerton and Hepburn started the final race of the back of the grid and made great progress to be seventh and ninth respectively by the end.

Meanwhile D'Aquino disappeared with another good win while Heur and Mulligan fought over second where Heur hung on. Jones and McFarland were the next, racing in close company.