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Bolger Wins at Mallala, as S.A. Stars Shine PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
da_img_2628cm_hrRound two of the 2007 Toyo Drift Australia Series went right down to the wire at South Australia's Mallala Motorsport Park, with Holden driver Robbie Bolger taking victory in the series' most controversial event finish yet.

In front of a 5,000 strong crowd at the Adelaide circuit, an intense day of action boiled down to a final battle between Bolger (VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) and South Australian Leighton Fine (Peer Industries Nissan Onevia), the latter aiming for a hat-trick of Mallala wins.

During the first run, the pair clashed at the last corner, with Fine unable to participate in the remainder of the battle.

"In the final corner, I hit a ripple strip which bounced the car off the track," Fine explained.

"I got it back on-track and to where I wanted to be, but Robbie wanted the same piece of road and we made heavy contact.

"It was just one of those things."

It saw Bolger take the win - his second in Drift Australia competition and the first time an interstater has beaten locally-based drivers to win a Drift Australia event since Winton 2005, where - incidentally - Jeremy Lake won aboard the same Monaro.

"It was a really good day," Bolger said.

"Obviously, with the way the final battle went, these aren't the circumstances in which you want to win, but aside from that I can't complain with how it went here against the local guys."

The win sees Bolger bounce back from a tough season opener at Barbagallo Raceway and vault into fourth place on the series standings.

"Barbagallo was one to forget, and Mallala wasn't very good for us last year, but this is the perfect way result to put those results behind us," he said.

"We focused a bit more on setting the car up better, everything went well for us and now we're looking to use this win as the base for a Championship challenge.

"It was a great send off for the Monaro, too - we'll have our new VE Commodore ready in time for Eastern Creek."

While just missing out on a hat-trick of Drift Australia wins at Mallala, Fine's second place also moves him up the order, into second place.

"It's a bitter-sweet result to get so close to winning the event, but I had some really tough battles during the course of the day," he said.

"Some of the early rounds were neck-and-neck, so to finish second is great; there were a lot of positives from the day.

"As a team we're working really well together and a big thanks to my mechanic Nathan, who fixed my car in 20 minutes after the final, so we could go out there and win Team Drift."

Fellow South Australian Christian Pickering (Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 200SX) completed the podium, defeating Darren Appleton (Team Peer Nissan 180SX) to secure third place and the championship lead.

"It's been a dream start to the season," Pickering enthused.

"To get to the podium again and now be leading the points sets us up really well for the rest of the year - I couldn't ask for anything more."

Nathan Weissel (Gatorz Nissan Skyline) bagged his second top eight finish for the year, with Victorians Luke Fink (Holford Motors Nissan Silvia), Chris DeJager (Go Fast Bits Nissan Skyline) and Michael Truscott (Philips Performance Lighting Nissan Silvia) all making it to the final eight for the first time in 2007.

While Barbagallo victor Adam Trewhella (Japanese Wholesale Spares Nissan Cefiro) was eliminated in the round of 16 and relinquishes his title lead, he maintains third in the series standings.

Completing a strong day for South Australian drivers, local ace Eddie Modra (Tanunda Tyre Service Toyota Sprinter) took out the Super Drift feeder class, with Rob Arborlino (Gatorz Nissan Silvia) finishing fourth to maintain his points lead.

The next round of the Toyo Drift Australia Series will see the field venture to the east coast for the first time in 2007, for round three at Sydney's Eastern Creek on July 7-8.

Television broadcasts of the Mallala event are headed by SBS' Speedweek at 12pm on Sunday May 6 and Channel 9 at 12pm on Saturday May 12, check local guides for details.

Viewers will also be able to check out the action on Fox Sports, and Drift Australia's YouTube channel, http://www.youtube.com/DriftAustraliaTV.

For more information about the Toyo Drift Australia Series, head to www.driftaustralia.com.au

Mallala Motorsport Park Top Eight;
1. Robbie Bolger (QLD, VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro)
2. Leighton Fine (SA, Peer Industries Nissan Onevia)
3. Christian Pickering (SA, Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 200SX)
4. Darren Appleton (QLD, Peer Industries Nissan 180SX)
5. Luke Fink (VIC, Holford Motors Nissan Silvia)
6. Chris DeJager (VIC, Go Fast Bits Nissan Skyline)
7. Michael Truscott (VIC, Philips Performance Lighting Nissan Silvia)
8. Nathan Weissel (NSW, Gatorz Nissan Skyline)

Toyo Drift Australia Series standings after Round 2;
1. Christian Pickering (SA, Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 200SX) - 897
2. Leighton Fine (SA, Peer Industries Nissan Onevia) - 834
3. Adam Trewhella (WA, Japanese Wholesale Spares Nissan Cefiro) - 831
4. Robbie Bolger (QLD, VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) - 820
5. Darren Appleton (QLD, Peer Industries Nissan 180SX) - 785
6. Chris Easton (NSW, JustJap.com Nissan Skyline) - 766
7. Nathan Weissel (NSW, Gatorz Nissan Skyline) - 739
8. Beau Yates (NSW, Peer Industries Toyota AE86 Sprinter) - 704
 
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