Brock Gilchrist has had a weekend to remember, taking all three race victories in the Toyota 86 Championship round at Hampton Downs.
He five-season veteran led from lights to flag in this afternoon’s Race 3, a comprehensive victory over Clay Osborne who worked hard to reduce the gap but it was to little to late.
Justin Allen continues to keep the pressure on Gilchrist atop the standings but continues to slowly drift further behind Gilchrist, a third placed finish keeping his decreasing titles hopes alive.
John Penny was the fourth driver to cross the line with Rylan Gray rounding out the top five.
The race was Gilchrist’s, however, getting away well off the start with Allen pressured from behind by Clay Osborne but holding his place to exit Turn 1 in second.
It didn’t take long for an incident of note, Ayrton Hodson the unlucky driver caught out as cars entered three-wide into a left hander, Mark Mallard with nowhere to go and turning the youngster.
All cars resumed under their own power, Hodson with damage however and forced to the pits to withdraw.
Order resumed following that, Gilchrist at the front as he has been all weekend, followed by Clay Osborne who had worked his way past Allen with Rylan Gray and John Penny close behind.
With the front three building respective gaps over those behind, battles began in the midfield behind. Penny was one of the first to move forward to take fourth off Gray while Hunter Robb joined their pack.
Saxon Sheehan was the next spinner at Turn 2 with eight laps to run, the #30 locked in a fight with Tim Leach and William Morton and coming out worse off.
He too resumed with no drama despite appearing beached at one point.
Christina Orr-West was also in a midfield pack, holding off Fynn Osborne, William Exton and Tom Bewley to sit ninth with five laps to go.
That’s ultimately how things finished, the final laps seeing the drivers file through with Gilchrist taking honours for the third time this weekend over Clay Osborne who reduced the gap in the dying stages.
Allen held on for third over Penny with Gray rounding out the top five.
Picture: Bruce Jenkins
