Hazelwood and Gomersall Share Bathurst Trans AM/TA2 Wins
 "Hazelwood and Gomersall Share Bathurst Trans AM/TA2 Wins")
In a dominant performance by the TFH Team, Mustang driver Todd Hazelwood was the overall National Trans AM round winner while Ben Gomersall claimed the TA2 Muscle Car maximum points haul after Race Two of the combined championship round at Mt Panorama this morning. All positions are provisional at this stage due to post race investigations yet to be heard.
The race was red flagged when Mustang driver Jordan Cox slammed the wall after hitting an oil patch while running second in the Dipper, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately blocked the track.
James Golding made the best of his pole start to lead into Turn One, Elliot Barbour who started on the second row was hung out to dry on the outside of Turn 1 dropping back to 15th, while TA2 lead runner Jarrod Hughes sat in 5th behind Nathan Herne.
Jordan Cox made a move on Todd Hazelwood for 2nd into the Chase while Ben Grice sent it down the inside on Jarrod Hughes for 5th into Turn, however losing control under brakes taking both out of contention.
Rookie Charlie Nash ended up bunkered in the gravel after damage to the front end, with the safety called at the end of Lap 1 and Hi-Tec Oils Camaro driver Robbie Farr pitted to tape up the driver’s side door with the race going green again on Lap 4.
National Trans AM reigning champ Todd Hazlewood passed Cox for second on the re-start and then James Golding with a superb run-down Conrod Straight taking the lead into the Chase.
TA2 racer Aaron Prosser was served with a 5 second penalty for overlapping at the re-start while Jordan Cox passed Golding’s GRM Mustang up Mountain Straight for second place on Lap 5.
Across the top of the Mountain, it all came undone when Cox hit the wall hard in the Dipper, taking out Adam Garwood and ultimately setting off a chain reaction that blocked the track and caused officials to shut down the race due to the lengthy clean up. Reports had oil on the track from Skyline to the Dipper which may have contributed to the incident overall.
With the race declared after only 6 laps, Hazelwood maximised his weekend efforts to take the overall win from Golding and former TA2 Rookie of the Year Nathan Herne.
Due to Hughes finishing well down as a result of the Turn 1 slam dunk from Grice, TFH Mustang driver Ben Gomersall ending up with the TA2 winner’s trophy.
The Circo Master Class was dominated by TA2 regulars Graham Cheney, Paul Hadley and Mark Crutcher and Team RSG Dodge driver Hayden Jackson won the $500 Hypercoil Hard Charger Award with a 16-spot gain in Race 2 from grid 40.
Cameron Lawes for the Racing Academy was awarded the Rookie of the Round Award, while NZ young gun Ayrton Hodson won the Wilwood Big Braker Award for his first impressive appearance on Mt Panorama.
Results are still provisional at the time of posting, however Jarrod Hughes and Ben Gomersall continue to dominate the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series - presented by Maritimo Luxury Yachts series points after the second round. Hi-Tec Oils Brad Gartner was a non-starter this round however will be back for Round Three at Sydney Motorsport Park under lights at the end of May.
QUOTES
Ben Gomersall, #35 Unit Racing/TFH Racing Ford Mustang
“I am super stoked to come away with the Race 2 win and an outright win here at Bathurst. The Unit Racing Mustang has been quick all weekend. There was a fair bit of action in there last one so I was just trying to manage to pick our way through the field and stay out of trouble, but overall was good to come home with a win.”
Josh Thomas, #69 TFH Racing Mustang
“I had a great weekend in Bathurst, it is actually my first outright podium in the TA2 series and I am so pumped about that. A 41 car grid it was very chaotic at times but the racing was awesome and it is good to be here with everyone. Huge thank you to my team and sponsors, I can’t wait for the next one at Sydney Motorsport Park.”
Graham Cheney, #51 IES Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro
“It was a pretty good day here for me at Bathurst after the mistake I had yesterday but today was definitely an interesting race. It was very tricky with all the oil that was across the top of the mountain, but I was very lucky not to put it in the wall. It was awesome to see this many cars here for the weekend with lot’s of good racing.”
