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[Aussie Performance Cars] PERFORMANCE |
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Wednesday, 09 November 2005 |
The Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship makes the trek to Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Raceway this weekend, for the penultimate round of the championship - and all signs suggest it’s going to be another cracker of a round.
One of the stories in the championship to date has been the remarkable diversity amongst the field, and variety at the pointy end of the results.
Ten different models from seven different manufacturers have raced in the series at some stage in the five rounds to date. Of those manufacturers, five of them currently sit inside the top seven on the championship standings, and four of them have won a round.
Another trait of the series in 2005 has been the large number of drivers battling it out at the head of the field. There have been five different round winners in five rounds, and twelve drivers have finished a round inside the top six. Similarly, eleven drivers have finished a race inside the top three.
This all helps set the stage for a fascinating remaining two rounds.
Eighteen drivers will make the trip across Bass Straight to tackle the 2.4km circuit, situated about 30km south of Launceston.
Six of them enter the round with a mathematical chance of taking the title; with 186 points on offer across the remaining two rounds.
Currently leading the way is Peter Floyd (BP Ultimate HSV GTS) on 334 points. Floyd has been Mr. Consistency in 2005 and has finished every round inside the top four. For the number buffs, his average finishing position across the five rounds is 2.75.
Nineteen points behind Floyd is Garry Holt (Century 21 Real Estate Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), followed by Mark King (Delphi Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII) who is seventy-four in arrears.
Also in the frame are Barry Morcom (Rondo Building Services Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), Beric Lynton (Donut King BMW M3) and John Falk (Fibreglass International FPV MkII GT), who are 116, 146 and 148 points behind Floyd respectively.
The nature of the Symmons Plains circuit could play an interesting role in the eventual series result. Its long straights should give the bigger HSV and FPV V8’s, and even the six cylinder BMW’s a chance to stretch their legs against the four cylinder Mitsubishi’s, Nissan’s and Subaru’s.
That said, though, it was the Mitsubishi of Holt who earlier in the year won at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway, which features a whopping 1.1km long front straight.
Driving one of the Nissan’s and representing Tasmania on track, will be Adam Beechey. Beechey’s Donut King Nissan 200SX is one of five Donut King sponsored cars at Symmons Plains this weekend.
It is a story in itself, with three very different cars - two Nissan 200SX’s, two Holden Monaro’s and a BMW M3 - all hard to miss in Donut King pink. Peter Leemhuis will make his debut in the series aboard the second 200SX.
The weekend kicks off for the Performance Car drivers on Friday with a practice session at 10:35am. On Saturday, there is qualifying at 10:20am and the first two races, at 1:30pm and 5:00pm. The final race of the weekend will take place at 1:45pm on Sunday.
The final round of the 2005 Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship will take place a fortnight later, November 25-27, at Phillip Island Raceway in Victoria.
In the middle, racing from Symmons Plains can be seen on Trackside, Network Ten, on Sunday November 20.
For images and more information on the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship, visit www.performanceracing.net.au
Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship Standings;
1. Peter Floyd (HSV GTS)
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