David Russell has ended the longest drought in Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia history, claiming his first ever round win in his 60th attempt.
Russell, who moved to TekworkX Motorsport this season, had finished second on six occasions and had 14 prior podium appearances without a round win in his otherwise successful Carrera Cup career; but ended that streak in style today in Taupo.
Russell claimed the Endurance Cup opener on Sunday morning then finished a safe second in Race 2 to claim the round over Jackson Walls and Nash Morris.
Walls won the final race of the weekend after erupting from the second row of the grid, while Morris claimed his first Porsche Carrera Cup podium with a strong and consistent weekend in his STM Porsche.
Russell was thrilled to claim the round victory, just the second ever contested outside of Australia. He also becomes the 8th different round winner from the last 8 events, equaling a category record.
“It’s a great feeling to come away with the round win,” Russell said.
“The AGP was down in the points so we’re looking at the long game but to get a round win is a bonus.
“To finally have it is good – we’ve had plenty of wins and podiums but to get the monkey off the back is good and hopefully we can continue to keep rolling with it now. Big thanks to the guys at TekworkX, they’ve given me a great car this weekend and I just had to execute as best I could.
“I just face-timed (Rob Woods, team owner) and he’s in great spirits.”
Walls’ runner-up finish was his strongest result since late last year and his race win was the third in his career – and first since the Grand Prix last year.
Morris’ podium finish continued his strong one-make Porsche form, scoring several round victories in Michelin Sprint Challenge last year.
The third and final race of the weekend was an intense sprint with Walls’ jumping polesitter Russell off the line and leading into the first corner.
He was able to pull away from the field, while Morris and O’Keeffe battled for third position for much of the duration.
Behind them was an intense fight for the back half of the top-10 as Bayley Hall charged his way to fifth position with a series of key passes, with Dale Wood, Angelo Mouzouris, Fabian Coulthard, Ryder Quinn and Marco Giltrap completing the top-10.
In SP Tools Pro-Am, Adrian Flack extended his considerable championship lead by sweeping the weekend and claiming the overall victory.
Kiwi debutants Rick Armstrong and Sam Fillmore finished second and third and were, appropriately, tied on points at the end of the weekend.
Russell’s stunning New Zealand weekend has seen him rocket to second in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship standings, Harri Jones clinging on to a now nine-point championship lead.
Jackson Walls has climbed to third in the championship, on equal points with Dale Wood with Ryder Quinn fifth.
Flack continues to lead SP Tools Pro-Am over Matt Slavin and Dean Cook.
The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship field will return to Australia for the next round of the championship, to be held at the Betr Darwin Triple Crown in June.
Comments