Ryan Wood has completed a remarkable Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia sweep, claiming his sixth pole position from six rounds in an action-packed session at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit this afternoon.
The Team Porsche NZ scholarship winner punched out a 1m30.9661s best on his eighth of 11 laps in the 20-minute session to claim the top spot at every round this year.
“It’s great to get six poles from all six races this year, it’s a good way to start the weekend,” commented Wood. “We had trouble in practice with a couple of gremlins that crept in, but at the end of the day we did it when it mattered.
“Looking forward to tomorrow, we just need some luck to go our way finally. In terms of the Championship, all I can do is try get all the wins and pole for the extra point and see what happens in the end.”
He edged out championship leader Thomas Sargent by 0.26 seconds with the pair to start alongside each other for the sixth consecutive round tomorrow in race one.
The pair duelled for pole from the outset, running nose-to-tail for much of their initial run, Wood leading Sargent by just 0.01 seconds as they pitted for their second set of Michelin tyres half way through the session.
Wood was able to marginally improve on his second run while Sargent found no further time aboard his Tegra Australia 911, locking them into the front row of the grid.
Several drivers struggled to improve in their second runs after being delayed by several spinning cars while on their hot laps.
The bonus point for pole position draws the young Kiwi closer to Sargent in the title battle, the pair now separated by just 31 points – with 180 up for grabs across Saturday’s three races.
Fresh from his first podium finish at Mount Panorama last time out, Lachlan Bloxsom was third outright aboard his Team Navy / McElrea Racing entry.
He will line up alongside Courtney Prince, who was a late improver aboard her Local Legends / Bob Jane T-Marts Sonic entry to fourth of the Pro class runners.
Tom Taplin and Harrison Goodman will make up row three for the first race on Saturday.
Three races will decide the 2022 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season tomorrow at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit, competing at the Island Magic event.
All three races (9:30am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm local time) will be battled out over 13 laps
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