Chris ‘Hammer Time ‘ Hanley tightened his grip on the 2013 UDC V8 Utes series this afternoon with a win in the first race of the fifth round at Hampton Downs.
Hanley didn’t make the greatest of starts from a comfortable pole position, seemingly losing the drag race to Turn 1 to championship rival Peter ‘Kaos’ Ward, but as the two raced into the second corner, Hanley was able to edge back ahead and enter the corner first. From that moment on he never looked back, though Ward kept him on his toes and pushed hard enough that Hanley had to dip into the 1.17s in the last couple of laps to keep a safe margin.
Championship contender Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot was first of the Fords in the lurid green Precision Racing example. He too dipped into the 1.17s in qualifying and just about had the pace to hang onto the tails of Hanley and Ward.
Fourth and looking increasingly confident as the short race wore on was Matt Gibson in the BNT Ford Falcon, the highlight of his race a good pass on Brett Rudd’s Holden. Having passed Rudd, Gibson was able to ease way and give chase to Lightfoot, setting some competitive times in the process.
James ‘Huggi’ Urquart finished a solid sixth on his return to the category – despite a couple of lurid wide moments exiting the downhill sweeper. Peter Robb had a good race to finish seventh, with Jeff Kernohan the best of the family Fords in eighth. Aussie debutant David Ling finished ninth – growing in confidence in his Ford throughout the first day of the meeting. Dave Kernohan survived a massive spin – avoiding any contact with Hampton Downs’ unforgiving concrete walls – on the first lap to complete the race in tenth spot.
Geoff Spencer didn’t make the start – differential problems leaving him stranded without even a qualifying lap. Work began immediately on the Holden with a clear target to get Spencer back on track for Sunday’s three races.
YDC V8 UTES SERIES – ROUND 5 HAMPTON DOWNS – RACE 1
1. Chris Hanley Holden Commodore VE
2. Peter Ward Holden Commodore VE
3. Mike Lightfoot Ford Falcon BF
4. Matt Gibson Ford Falcon BF
5. Brett Rudd Holden Commodore VE
6. James Urquart Holden Commodore VE
7. Peter Robb Holden Commodore VE
8. Jeff Kernohan Ford Falcon BF
9. David Ling Ford Falcon BF
10. Dave Kernohan Ford Falcon BF
DNS Geoff Spencer Holden Commodore VE
