Harri Jones and Hunter Robb enjoyed a highly successful weekend in the Australian IRC Racing Series at The Bend Motorsport Park, claiming a clean sweep of class victories and securing the IRC SD class round win.
The pair showed promising pace from the outset during the weekend’s sole practice session. Jones and Robb finished eighth overall in the 16-car field while topping the IRC SD class, setting a fastest lap of 1:20.243s. Their time placed them 3.267 seconds shy of the outright pace set by Lee Stibbs in the IRC GT class with a 1:16.976s benchmark.
Qualifying duties were split between the two drivers, with Jones first behind the wheel for the Driver A session. He delivered a strong performance to finish seventh overall and again lead the IRC SD class, posting a best lap of 1:18.280s, just over two seconds away from Stibbs’ quickest time of 1:16.186s.
Robb followed in the Driver B session, recording an equally competitive run. His best lap of 1:18.442s placed him eighth overall and first in class, 2.421 seconds behind the fastest time of the session set by Geoff Emery (1:16.021s).
The combined results placed the pair eighth on the grid for the opening race, starting from the fourth row alongside John Holinger, while Stibbs and Emery locked out the front row.
The first race of the weekend began with a rolling start, with Stibbs launching well from pole to lead the field into Turn 1. Early drama unfolded at the end of the opening lap when Axle Donaldson spun his MARC Car MK2 at the final corner, sliding into the grass and narrowly avoiding the inside wall before rejoining the race.
Jones quickly began making progress through the field. By lap three, he had climbed two positions to sixth and was closing in on John Goodacre, who was running one second ahead in fifth. Donaldson’s earlier off-track excursion had promoted Jones up the order, while Holinger dropped down to 15th.
At the front, Stibbs controlled proceedings from start to finish, claiming the race win by 4.1 seconds over Emery, with Daniel Stutterd completing the IRC GT class podium.
Jones crossed the line sixth overall and secured the IRC SD class victory, giving the pairing the perfect start to the weekend.
Robb took over driving duties for the second race, a 50-minute encounter, and delivered another strong performance. He again finished sixth overall while comfortably taking victory in the IRC SD class, maintaining the team’s unbeaten run in class competition.
The third race of the weekend was ultimately declared a no result following a red flag incident when Daniel Stutterd struck a concrete wall, and his car caught fire. Fortunately, the race was halted immediately, and no injuries were reported.
Robb returned to the cockpit for the final race of the weekend, lining up seventh on the grid alongside fellow IRC SD competitor Treigh Maschotta. Emery and Stibbs started from the front row, with Emery seizing the lead by Turn 2.
Robb made an immediate impact, gaining two positions on the opening lap to move into fifth place. He soon found himself chasing Lachlan Harburg’s IRC GT entry, at times closing to within six-tenths of a second before the gap stretched to around a second during the middle stages.
At the front, Emery held off persistent pressure from Stibbs to secure the race win, the pair separated by just three-tenths of a second at the chequered flag. John Goodacre completed the IRC GT podium.
Robb crossed the line in fifth overall and, once again, took victory in the IRC SD class, ensuring the team completed a perfect weekend in their category.
With three class wins from the races contested, Jones and Robb secured the IRC SD class round victory.
“Round winners at The Bend!! It was great to share the Innovation Race Cars SD car with Hunter this weekend, taking three class wins and had some great battles with the faster GT cars,” said Jones.
“Love the cars, love the category and excited for more in the future!!”
The result capped off a dominant class performance for the duo, who consistently ran inside the top ten overall while proving unbeatable in the IRC SD category throughout the weekend.
Header Image: Jones Motorsport
