Wright Wins Ipswich Thriller

With a hat-trick of wins, Russell Wright extended his championship lead in the Queensland Trans-Am 2 Racing Series after an enthralling third round of the season at the 2 Days of Thunder at Queensland Raceway.

Trans-Am 2 debutant Ashley Jarvis claimed pole position for the ten-car grid with a scintillating 1:14.9, the fastest lap ever in a Trans-Am 2 car at Queensland Raceway. The former Saloon Car driver then followed up by taking the opening race win in wet conditions, as well as a pair of second placings across the weekend. Camaro racer Greg Willis climbed three positions to secure a personal best finish of fifth in the opening race.

Starting from second, Wright fended off Jarvis in race two to take the win, while Chad Cotton battled handing issues in the wet conditions to take a pair of thirds in the opening two races.

In a reverse-grid race three, Wright and Cotton charged from the rear as Wright gained the lead from eventual third place finisher Ian McAlister on lap seven. An intense battle for the final podium spot saw McAlister lead home Peter Robinson, Hugh McAlister, Jarvis and Craig Harris as they all crossed the line within 1.5 seconds.

Starting fifth for the finale, Jarvis made his way through the field to challenge Wright for the race lead in the final laps. Wright took the chequered flag by half a second to take the round win, as Harris rose from seventh to secure an impressive third place finish.

Wright was delighted with his result as the competition stepped up another level.

“We were racing so close and so hard, and through all Trans-Am 2 cars there were no mechanical issues and no panel damage. It was an incredibly successful weekend for the category,” said Wright.

“There was less than a second between more than three-quarters of the field, so it’s getting incredibly close.

“The cars are actually quicker than most of us are driving them, so everybody is starting to step up to the challenge as they feel more comfortable in the cars.”

Trans-Am 2 Racing Australia next heads to Sydney Motorsport Park, with four cars currently scheduled to race within the combined NSW Sports Sedans and National Sports Sedans field on July 1-2.