Earl Bamber Motorsport driver Callum Hedge has claimed his maiden win in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia at the Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville.
After finishing third yesterday, Hedge worked his way forward, finishing second in this mornings race before finally winning the finale this afternoon.
Hedge took the lead early in the race, overtaking second race winner Jackson Walls on turn 3 by taking a wider line. He managed to maintain his position, while Walls dropped back behind David Wall.
Wall quickly made ground on the 18 year old leader Hedge, but excellent defending saw the kiwi hold on for the win, his first as a pro in the Carrera Cup category.
Yesterday’s race winner, and Carrera Cup veteran, Luke Youlden finished near the rear of the field after spinning out of contention on Lap 4 following contact with Aaron Love.
The win is hopefully the first of many for Hedge, with a bright career seemingly ahead for the young New Zealand driver.
At only 14, Hedge was the youngest ever winner of Formula Ford in New Zealand, his 2017/18 title saw his claim pole in 16 out of 17 races, winning 11 of those and finishing 2nd in a further four.
He went on to win the 2018/19 Toyota Finance 86 Championship before setting his sights on Australia, where he began competing in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in 2021. Hedge went on to win one of the five races in that season before it was abandoned due to the pandemic.
The number 17 driver also competed at Bathurst in the Carrera Cup last year as a wildcard, finishing ninth in both races there.
The next outing for the Carrera Cup will be on the weekend of July 29-31 at The Bend, where hopefully we can see Hedge repeat his winning performance.
