Brad and Mitchell Neilsen are aiming to continue their winning form when the Radical Australia Cup heads to Sandown next month.
The pair are in high spirits after their second round win at The Bend as part of the opening round of the 2018 Shannons Nationals.
From the outset, the Neilsens showed grit and perseverance at The Bend, securing a start on the second row in qualifying before winning the first race of the round.
The exclusion of pole-sitters James Winslow and Yasser Shahin early in the race, as well as brilliant driving from Mitchell set up father Brad to cross the line in their maiden Radical Australia Cup victory.
The pair’s fifth place finish in the second race was enough to secure the round triumph.
“For us it was fantastic to get our first race win and round win at The Bend’s first ever event, which makes it just that little bit more sweet,” Mitchell said.
“Moving forward we are looking to carry that momentum into the next round at Sandown in three weeks and hopefully bag some solid points towards the championship.”
The pair currently sit seventh in the overall standings, 60 points below current leader Kim Burke (124 points) after a podium finish and fifth allowed Burke to finish the round on top of the table.
Just one point now separates Chris Medland (87) in second and Chris Perini (86) on 87, thanks to Medland’s second placing in the first race and sixth in the second.
Perini was the most improved throughout the event, recovering from a disappointing 12th in the first race to win the second, putting himself in a good position in the standings.
“It was a fantastic result after the frustrations of race one,” Perini said.
“I have to say a massive thank you to GWR for their support and perseverance both on and off the track to give me a car that was capable of taking the fight to some pretty serious competition.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to chase down Kim Burke at Sandown.”
One driver who will be looking to make amends at Sandown is Peter Paddon, as two highly disappointing races at The Bend undid all the good work from his first round victory in Bathurst.
Paddon now sits in fifth place after having to retire both races, making it the first time in almost a year that Paddon has failed to finish on the podium.
The Radical Australia Cup’s next round will take place as part of the Shannons Nationals second round at Sandown Raceway on 11-13 May.
Tickets to Sandown’s Shannons Nationals event are available here.
