Sandown: Sunday Wrap

Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series  

Race 2 

Series leader, Bailey Sweeny charged his way through the field in the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series reverse grid race, finishing ahead of Aaron Cameron and Lachlan Mineeff.  

Sweeny pressured the early leader, Tom Oliphant off the line and soon found himself in the lead, then able to build a sustainable gap for the foreseeable future.

It was a session to forget for 2019 champion, Will Brown who had to retire the car after an oil and engine issue.  

Race 3

Bailey Sweeny made it two from three for the weekend after yet another Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series win.

Sweeny was bested by Aaron Cameron on the line and was forced to make a move to take the win, leaving Cameron more than two seconds behind for the remainder of the race.

In the end, Cameron would finish in a lonely second place while Tony D’Alberto would take third after both Zac Soutar and Lachlan Mineeff tangled late on, causing both to DNF.

 

National Trans Am Series  

Race 3 

James Moffat completed a National Trans Am Series clean sweep at Sandown after another dominant win on Sunday afternoon.  

The series leader lost out to Elliot Barbour at the start line but a chaotic turn one saw the former retake the lead, not being headed for the remainder of the race.  

Almost 10 seconds back in second was teammate Lochie Dalton, who did his best to stay in touch with his teammate but had to settle for second, while Cody Gillis put in an impressive stint to finish third.

 

Kumho V8 Touring Car Series  

Race 2  

Jude Bargwanna charged his way from the rear of the grid to take victory in the second Kumho V8 Touring Car Series race of the weekend. 

The series leader worked his way through the field in the opening laps to sit on the rear of race leader, Jamie Tilley with only a handful of laps to go before the latter found himself in the wall due to a mechanical failure.  

The race finished under safety car conditions, with Jim Pollicina promoted into second while Ray Hislop rounded out the podium places.  

Race 3 

Jude Bargwanna closed out the weekend for Kumho V8 Touring Car Series in style, taking his second victory of the weekend in a dominant display of racing.  

Starting from the rear of the grid, Bargwanna charged his way through the pack to eventually find himself in the lead at the midway point of the race, while a Jim Pollicina spin and a Ray Hislop black flag gave him some extra breathing room.  

Coming home in second place was an impressive Antonio Mulluso with Pollicina recovering to take the final spot on the podium. 

Australian Production Cars and Monochrome GT4 Australia  

Race 3 

It’s a perfect three for Shane Smollen (GT4) and Grant Sherrin (APC) after the duo once again claimed top honours in their respective classes at Sandown. 

Smollen, who now has a healthy gap at the top of the GT4 standings, was never headed in the third race of the weekend, beating second place runner Steve Jukes by 16 seconds.  

Meanwhile, Sherrin was again the only APC representation in the outright top five, pipping yet another outright podium finish while taking the category honours ahead of Iain Sherrin and Coleby Cowham.  

Race 4 

Shane Smollen prevailed in the fourth and final race of the weekend for the combined APC and GT4 category.  

Smollen led from start to finish ahead of Steve Jukes and Mark Griffith in a chaotic outing which saw multiple safety car interventions.  

Also clean sweeping their respective class was Grant Sherrin, who claimed win number four for the weekend ahead of brother, Iain Sherrin, while Cameron Crick rounded out the podium places.  

Australian Formula Open 

Race 2 

Ryan How continued to make Sandown weekend his own after taking a second straight Australian Formula Open victory ahead of Trent Grubel.  

The former was quick off the line and took advantage of a slow start from his title rival, before the two tightened up towards the end of the race.  

Grubel would cross the line ahead of How, but a five second penalty demoted him back.  

The same thing happened with Kristian Janev in the AF04 class, finishing ahead of teammate Brodie Norris but being demoted back into second.  

Race 3 

Trent Grubel finally pinched a win back from Ryan How in the third and final Australian Formula Open race.  

Grubel showed great pace early and overtook How with nine laps to go and held on in a shortened race, while Miles Bromley finished third out of the AF01. 

Kristian Janev took out the race three win, this time ahead of Brodie Norris in the AF04.  

MARC Cars Australia 

Race 3 

Daniel Jilesen put a MARC GT on the top step of the podium for the first time this weekend after an impressive drive in the third and final MARC Cars Australia race. 

Jileson was one of the last drivers to pit but ultimately held the lead on return to the track, cruising his way to the chequered flag ahead of Cameron McLeod – also posting the fastest lap of the weekend in the process. 

Running in third was Darren Currie, who finished ahead of the weekend’s other race winner, Jake Camilleri.