After a chaotic race yesterday, it was set to be an interesting race with Matthew Payne and Ryan Wood up the front.
Payne got off to a great start but quickly found himself wheel-spinning as he fell down the order. Wood did well to get up into third from sixth, while yesterday’s race winner Kai Allen jumped into second from fourth. Kostecki remained in front, under pressure from the drivers behind.
Heimgartner had a tough start after being ushered wide on lap two, falling down eight spots to seventeenth. Payne was able to recover to get in front of Broc Feeney, moving the Kiwi up to fourth.
Some biff and barge in the mid pack left between David Reynolds, Cameron Hill and Jobe Stewart sent Hill off the track, where he re-emerged out of turn 14. At the same time, Heimgartner entered the lane with steering damage, stating the car wasn’t turning right. This left Macauley Jones as the sole Brad Jones Racing car on track, with both Hill and Heimgartner sitting in the lane for repairs.
At the front, Kostecki led over Kai Allen after a small moment for the Dick Johnson Racing driver left him wide on the exit of turn 1. Payne had moved up into third while holding the fastest lap so far. Wood sat in fourth, comfortably leading Feeney in fifth.
Drivers also had to wrestle with one compulsory stop throughout the thirty-seven-lap race. By lap thirteen, both Heimgartner and Hill had emerged from the lane, both five laps down from leader Kostecki.
On lap sixteen, both Kostecki and Allen came into the lane. Kostecki was able to keep in front of Allen after a late tyre call. Wood headed into the lane a lap later, emerging behind Allen with Payne yet to pit.
Chaos almost ensued after James Golding spun coming into the pit lane. Jones did a great job to avoid the Blanchard Racing car on entry, kicking up a huge amount of dust in the process.
At the same time, Grove Racing planned to extend their stop-and-go late until the end. With seventeen laps to go, Allen had closed up to the back of Kostecki in what was shaping up to be a close battle to the end.
While Kostecki and Allen battled away, Wood was able to start to close up to the back of the pack. Payne eventually came into the lane with 14 laps to go, electing to fit two new rear tyres. Payne emerged on the bumper of Allen in third.
After a slower-than-usual stop, Grove began reporting that the right-rear tyre may not have been mounted properly. Moments later, the wheel went flying off the car, ending Payne’s charge for a win with heartbreak on the faces of all those in the Grove garage. Payne was able to limp back to the lane, but emerged in twenty-second.
Payne’s pain served as Wood’s gain as he was promoted to third place, with a two-second gap back to Brown with eight to go.
Agonisingly, Payne held the fastest lap towards the end of the race, showing his pace and leaving everyone wondering what could have been. Chaz Mostert and Declan Fraser got together after a late move by Fraser, leaving him facing the other way out of turn 14.
With two laps to go, Brown had closed up to the back of Wood. However, Wood was able to hold off, taking yet another podium and helping him gain points in the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
Kostecki was able to get one over Allen after yesterday’s race, taking the win over the young Grove driver. Wood finished in third ahead of Brown, and Feeney. Payne recovered up to nineteenth after his pit stop drama.
Drivers and teams do not get much rest as Race 12 kicks off at 4:10pm NZST.
Header Image: Penrite Racing
