5^th May, 2002
Rd 3, final report

Drivers call for end to grid ballot

V8 BRutes may have been just another part of the 16-race program on the weekend at Oran Park, along with the GT Performance and GT Production Car championships, the Australian Formula 3 championship and the Nations Cup.

But typically, the V8 BRute Series Holden and Ford utes provided the wildest racing - plus a touch of controversy and an historical note.

Touring car legend and Bathurst winner Allan Grice, 59, returned to Oran Park for the first time in 10 years, and scored his first win aboard a Ford Falcon XR8 in the third BRutes race.

Locally-based driver Warren Luff won the first race by a massive 13 seconds, while Grant Denyer won race two. Both drove Falcons, helping Ford maintain its Manufacturers Championship lead over Holden, 2247 points to 1897.

The first two races featured plenty of contact between a packed field of 23 competitors, who included former Sydney Roosters rugby league player Jack Elsegood.

After a heavy accident in race two involving front-runner Damien White (Falcon) and James Brock (Commodore), all the drivers met to discuss driving standards and to hear calls for less aggressive tactics in race three. White's car was badly damaged when it hit a tyre wall, but he was unhurt apart from bruising.

Senior Ford driver Ian McAlister said a six-man committee of Ford and Holden representatives would discuss the meeting's sentiments - including calls to scrap a ballot system of deciding starting order - with V8 BRute Series organiser PROCAR Australia.

Under present rules, after all drivers have qualified the grid positions are actually decided by a ballot, often placing slower drivers at the front of the grid.

"Even after race one today there was always going to be something said, but the crash in race two sealed it," said McAlister.

"Some of the driving was pretty bad today. It's been happening for a year and the competitors are concerned for their safety and damage to their cars."

V8 BRute Series (Rd 3)

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