MINI Challenge – Round 3 Wrap up

Well, what a bonanza Barbagallo has dished up for this round of the MINI Challenge. More thrills and spills than anyone anticipated, or, in some cases, wanted, but alls well that ends well. The big talking point from the round was Ben Tune’s accident in Race one. The former rugby international came across the rise heading toward the final turn on the Barbagallo Raceway, before losing control on the damp circuit on lap seven. His MINI dug into the soft ground and rolled onto its roof. He was then rushed to Joondalup Hospital for precautionary scans where he stayed overnight. Earlier today he was released from hospital with no sign of serious injury. A big sigh of relief for Ben, his family and all followers of the MINI Challenge.

In the end Damien White became the third round winner in as many rounds when he swept to victory in the most hotly contested MINI Challenge race this season, while Gary Young (SALTA Constructions) scored his maiden MINI Challenge victory. Read on for more detail.

Race one

Race one started with a few touch ups off the the line which saw the demise of local hopes in David Turner and Leanne Tander. As mentioned there was a long delay after Ben Tune’s accident, but once under green flag conditions a major battle took place for the minor placings, up to six drivers swapping positions at will. The battle involved pole-sitter, Damien White, Geier, Paul Stokell (DecoRug Motorsport), his team-mate Denyer, Paul Fiore, Nathan Callaghan (Calmack Smash Repairs) and McFadyen, enthralling the large and vocal crowd on hand. Ultimately though, Fiore was able to hold onto the race lead and score a huge win in front of a big contingent of friends and family, defeating Geier by 0.22 seconds. Or so he thought.

Car #30 (Paul Fiore – Shell Helix Ultra) and Car #5 (Nathan Geier – Sherrin Rentals) each received the equivalent of a drive-through penalty for passing under yellow flag conditions during the event. This penalty equated to a 23 second addition to both drivers’ overall race time from race one, dropping them to 12th and 13th position respectively.

The amended results from race one are as follows:

1. Grant Denyer (DecoRug Motorsport)
2. Damien White (MINI CHALLENGE)
3. Nathan Callaghan (Calmack Smash Repairs)
4. Paul Stokell (DecoRug Motorsport)
5. Neil McFadyen (Scope Signs and Graphics)
6. Gary Young (SALTA Constructions)
7. Todd Fiore (Shell Helix Ultra)
8. Nicholas Stillwell (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage)
9. Darren Berry (Clipper Motor Yachts)
10. Mike Sherrin (Sherrin Equipment)
11. Jim Sweeney (Jim Sweeney Motorsport)
12. Paul Fiore (Shell Helix Ultra)
13. Nathan Geier (Sherrin Rentals)

• DNF: Ben Tune (MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR)
• DNF: Leanne Tander (MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR)
• DNF: David Turner (Glory Constructions)
• Fastest lap: Nathan Geier 1:05.7734

Race two

Young was ecstatic with his race win for the SALTA Constructions team. The 2007 Australian Performance Cars Champion has been flying under the radar thus far in MINI CHALLENGE and came to the race track today determined to walk away with a decent result. He controlled the pace from the front of the reverse grid race and deserved his race victory.

UBER-STAR CAR driver, Leanne Tander, continued her running battle with David Turner (Glory Constructions). The two, who came together in spectacular fashion yesterday, were at loggerheads in race two again before Tander had a 60 second penalty added to her race time by officials for a start line infringement.

1. Gary Young (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage)
2. Neil McFadyen (Doulman Automotive)
3. Nathan Callaghan (Calmack Smash Repairs)
4. Damien White (MINI CHALLENGE)
5. Paul Fiore (Brisbane MINI Garage)
6. Todd Fiore (Brisbane MINI Garage)
7. Nathan Geier (Sherrin Rentals)
8. Grant Denyer (Decorug Motorsport)
9. Nicholas Stillwell (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage)
10. David Turner (Glory Team Racing)
11. Mike Sherrin (Sherrin Equipment)
12. Jim Sweeny (Jim Sweeney Motorsport)
13. Darren Berry (Motorline MINI)
14. Paul Stokell (Decorug Motorsport)
15. Leanne Tander (MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR)*

• 60 Seconds Penalty: Competitor #25 Leanne Tander
• Fastest Lap: Leanne Tander 1:05.9703

Race three

The man they call Ice, Damien White, was dynamite, withholding a battle pack of eight cars—at some points up to three wide as they charged around the tight Barbagallo Raceway. He spoke with great enthusiasm for the series after the final race,“Man, it was damn hot out there. The racing was phenomenal and it was great to battle it out with Grant again. We duked it out at the 12 hour back in February so to be battling with the little man again was just awesome. I was under a lot of pressure—I looked up at one stage and lost count of the cars following me over the hill, but I just love it, it’s the best way to go racing and these things are wild!”

Series leader heading into this round, Grant Denyer (DecoRug Motorsport) continued his consistent run, finishing the round second and collecting another 15kg of success ballast. A circumspect Denyer spoke of some great racing, while apologising to McFadyen for some racing contact, “It was just like the good old Ute days out there with Damo and myself battling it out! There was a lot of bump and grind and I have to apologise to Neil as I did hit him hard at one point. It’s not how I like to go racing, but unfortunately it happened, we were racing so closely together. The racing was just red hot and I’m so happy for this DecoRug Motorsport team that we were able to maintain the points lead after drifting back in the field during the second race.”

Adding to his weight tally as well was Neil McFadyen, who finished the round third. The championship battle between Denyer and McFadyen resembled a 15 round boxing match rather than a 15 lap race, the two see-sawing places and banging doors throughout the encounter. In the end, it was Denyer who was able to come away with the upper hand, his Series lead though remains stagnant at 12 points. McFadyen was just happy to be back in the points after a disappointing round at Wakefield last month, “That was some of the closest, hardest racing I’ve ever done. We gave as good as we got out there, it was just a lot of fun and the fact we maintained our points gap to Grant was not such a bad result. I would have liked to close it a bit, but at least we didn’t lose any points.”

1. Damien White (MINI CHALLENGE)
2. Grant Denyer (Decorug Motorsport)
3. Neil McFadyen (Doulman Automotive)
4. Nathan Callaghan (Calmack Smash Repairs)
5. Todd Fiore (Brisbane MINI Garage)
6. Leanne Tander (MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR)
7. Paul Fiore (Brisbane MINI Garage)
8. Paul Stokell (Decorug Motorsport)
9. Gary Young (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage)
10. Nicholas Stillwell (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage)
11. David Turner (Glory Team Racing)
12. Jim Sweeny (Jim Sweeny Motorsport)
13. Mike Sherrin (Sherrin Equipment)
14. Darren Berry (Motorline MINI)

• DNF: Nathan Geier (Sherrin Rentals)
• Fastest Lap: Leanne Tander 1:05.6260

L to R: Grant Denyer, Damien White, Neil McFadyen

The next round of MINI Challenge will be at Sandown on the June Long Weekend. Highlights of today’s racing can be seen on the Seven Network on 31 May.

MINI CHALLENGE TOP 10 (after 3 of 8 rounds)

1. Grant Denyer – 444
2. Neil McFadyen – 432
3. Paul Stokell – 345
4. Paul Fiore – 330
5. Nathan Geier – 330
6. Gary Young – 288
7. Todd Fiore – 198
8. David Turner – 180
9. Damien White – 156
10. Nathan Callaghan – 138