|
24th
March, 2002
Super
Tourers
Oran Park - Round One
A
troubled Gurr leaks, fights back for 2/3
Alan Gurr, driving the Searle family's BMW 320i, could consider
himself unlucky in not winning the first leg of the opening round in the
Power Tour's Super Tourers series.
He was well ahead in the 18 lap event but was black
flagged for oil leaking onto the exhaust. But he did take out the other
two races, beating home the Peugeot of Ric Shaw on both occasions.
With Gurr out of Race One, Peter Hills took over the lead in his Ford
Mondeo and went on to take the victory. Hills had been third in the early
part, behind team mate Grant Johnson. The pair were involved in an early
race dice that also included Shaw and Sam Dale (Mondeo).
Hills was eventually able to pull clear with Johnson taking second and
Shaw third. Fourth across the line was 16-year-old Andre Morgan, driving
David Auger's Alfa Romeo from seventh, passing the Toyota of Paul
Leabeater, then Dale before the finish.
Hills led the second race from the start but his Mondeo made a smokey
retirement on the second lap, handing the lead to Johnson who showed
the way to Shaw until Gurr passed both. Dale finished fourth from
Leabeater and Michael Kerslake in a Hyundai.
Johnson and Shaw diced for the early lead of race three as once again Gurr
charged through from the back of the field. Race officials deemed that
Johnson had jumped off the start prematurely and he was forced to make a
stop/go pitstop.
Shaw led briefly before Gurr charged to the front and away for a strong
victory. Morgan was third from Leabeater with Johnson next ahead of
Malcolm Rea in a Toyota Carina.
|