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Round 8 of V8 League saw us stay in Queensland and head further south to the Queensland Raceway in Ipswich. Ben Grice greeted the field with his real life driving background. Lets see how he mixes it alongside our seasoned drivers.

Qually:

Five minute session would give the field a couple of good laps to post a good time. James Delaney has been walking taller through the pits as he is really comfortable with this track and he knows a good result will boost him up the ladder. He posted a 1:11.335 to take provisional pole but Duran Nikora spoiled the party by snatching that time with a 1:10.000. Daniel Oppedisanoedisano the best of the Queenslander’s with Jayme Hemi.

The racing will be tight tonight as the entire field has qualified within 2 sec’s of each other.

Race #1:

Nathan Tregarthen  gets the jump into T1 while Ben Grice goes a bit hot into T2. Oppedisano feeling the pressure from Delaney, Mick Spiteri and Iain McIntosh for P3. Greg Gavalas after a poor qualifying result has moved up the field and is currently in P7 after 2 laps. Matt Pisani had an earlier visit to the grass leaving him with plenty of work to do to get back to the front. Ben Grice is absolutely carving up the field as he moves into P6 ahead of Gavalas. Allan Marks on his Maiden appearance in the V8’s is not doing a bad job in P8 ahead of some seasoned regulars.

Five laps to go and Nikora cant bridge the gap to Tregarthen in the lead. Delaney and McIntosh have taken P3 from Oppedisano who now had Ben Grice on his tail fighting for P5. Pisani gets the move done on Enda Murphy on Lap 9 for P8. As I say that Tregarthen has just thrown the lead away to Nikora after a slight mistake under brakes. Steven Wright is improving throughout the year and is now in the top 10. With 1 lap to go Delaney has just squandered a podium finish as he slipped back to P6 allow McIntosh to take the final step of the first race.

Race #2:

With the faster guys down the back there was a bit of push and shove. Allan Marks the worst affected as he gets caught up with the slower traffic off the line. Iain McIntosh makes his way past Murphy to take the lead ahead of Steven Wright in P2. The rest of the field are too busy Duking it out tripping over themselves allowing the leaders to get away. Jayme Hemi and Delaney are the first to gamble on a pit stop on Lap 7 but it looks like no-one else will be visiting the lane as they all stay out till the end.

The top drivers are all still in a pack trying to outdo each other moving their way forward. They managed to get free at about lap 10 and Nikora tries his best to catch McIntosh 4 sec’s up the road. Nikora needed to lap a second faster to catch hime and he did on the final lap. Unfortunately for Iain McIntosh as he drove a solid race. He comes home in 2^nd and Oppedisano home in 3^rd.

Race #3:

The field gets through T1 & T2 cleanly but it got a bit rough into T3 under the heavy braking. No casualties as Oppedisano starts to stretch his lead. Nikora and Tregarthen get nudged back a few spots so they have a bit of work to do. McIntosh is comfortable in P2. Ben Grice is in P3 doing a solid job ahead of Tregarthen in P4. In fact McItosh and Grice are swapping positions at each turn while Tregarthen is waiting patiently for one of them to make a mistake.

Lap 9 and Nikora out braked Oppedisano on the final turn to take the lead. The experience of McIntosh and Tegarthen have dispensed Grice for now. Pisani and Spiteri are both starting to come up to the back of them to join the party for the Top 5 spot.

Lap 15 and Grice is back with McIntosh trying to get past. They both need new rubber as Grice is getting crossed up into every corner. Hemi retires early while the leader rolls into the lane for fresh rubber. As most of the field do the same Grice stays out to take the provisional lead.

Five laps to go and Nikora resumes the lead 3 seconds ahead of Tregarthen and Oppedisano in 3^rd. The crowd are currently watching the battle between McIntosh & Pisani for P5. Two laps to go and there is nothing in it. Nikora taking the clean sweep for the night. Tregarthen in 2^nd and Oppedisano taking home 3^rd.

By Shane Gilfeather

Championship Table: