Fight Looms After Albert Park Season Opener
7/3/2004 15:49 (Press Release) -
Porsche talent Alex Davison evened the victory ledger in the Carrera Cup at the oster’s Australian Grand Prix with Matt Halliday after winning today’s drama-pcked fourth and final race.
After making a sensational start, Davison (Greg Murphy Racing/Glenfords discount Tools) led all-the-way in the eight-lap race to make it two wins at the Grand Prix. He joined Kiwi Halliday (International Motorsport NZ/Giltrap Prestige) as two-race victors, setting up an exciting 2004 Carrera Cup series ahead.
The 24-year-old from the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn clocked his quickest lap of all of the four races on the second last lap to keep Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing/OAMPS Insurance Brokers) at bay in today’s race.
“It’s always good to win the last race because that is the one that most people remember. It was a great weekend all up, and to set our fastest lap in today’s race four was very pleasing,” said Davison.
“It would mean a lot to win the championship. I had the opportunity to race overseas again, but I decided to compete in the Australian Carrera Cup which is the major support category to one of the leading touring car competitions in the world.”
Richards, the reigning Carrera Cup champion, had a consistent four race carnival with two second placings and two third placings, in a close duel with both Davison and Halliday.
“The introduction of Matt and Alex has lifted the ball-game this year. I always knew Alex was quick and Matt demonstrated his talent in the recent Trans Tasman GT3 Cup,” said Richards.
“We’re happy with the places we got. If we can improve our starts, we will be there fighting again this year.”
The rivalry showcased between these three drivers and up-and-comers led by 21-year-old Fabian Coulthard (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun) this weekend, has previewed the official championship which begins with round one in two weeks at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.
While Davison and Richards stayed out of trouble in front, there was plenty of action behind them to add spice to some great Porsche GT3 911 racing today.
Halliday and team mate Ross Rutherford (International Motorsport NZ/Woodstock Bourbon) had an altercation on the final turn which sent Rutherford into a spin off-the-track. Halliday, who crossed the line in third, was later disqualified from the race by stewards for his part in the incident. Hamilton driver Rutherford rejoined the race in sixth with his place adjusted to fifth in the final results.
One of the happiest drivers with today’s result was Matt Coleman (Matt Coleman Racing/Red Bull) who finished third after starting from 14th on the grid. The Donvale 30-year-old finished sixth in the championship last year and showed he was back with a charging final race.
Giving Coleman a tight race to the line was last year’s series runner-up Marcus Marshall (TEKNO Autosports/AEG Power Tools) from the Gold Coast, who finished an encouraging fourth.
New Zealand drivers Rick Armstrong (International Motorsport NZ/Rick Armstrong Motors) and Paul Pedersen (International Motorsport NZ/Lakesawn Lumber) capped off a great weekend for their team with seventh and eighth placings respectively behind another team mate in Rutherford.
Gold Coast’s Klark Quinn gave Team VIP Petfoods its best result of the weekend with eighth position, while Andrew Bagnall (International Motorsport NZ/Holiday Shoppe) and Peter Hill (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun) improved considerably to round out the top 10.
Coulthard, who looked set to push for his first podium finish in Carrera Cup, endured a broken clutch on lap five which ended his race. Others who suffered race-finishing drama included Charlie O’Brien (Charlie O’Brien Motorsport), Allan Simonsen (Mark Coffey Racing/Barry Plant Doherty Real Estate) Tony Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods) and Rodney Jane (Rodney Jane Racing/Bob Jane T-Marts).
The official championship season of the Australian Carrera Cup begins with round one at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide from March 18 to 21 with the final round (Round Nine) to be held at the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast from October 21 to 24.
The Carrera Cup is the most successful 'one make' championship in the world with 30 close-to-identical Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars built by Porsche' racing arm in Weissach, Germany racing at the Foster's Australian Grand Prix. All cars have a top speed in excess of 300 kilometres per hour with a 400-horsepower, 6 cylinder Boxer engine which revs to 8000 RPM.
PROVISIONAL RESULTS
Race 4, Michelin Carrera Cup, Sunday March 6
1. Alex Davison (Greg Murphy Racing/Glenfords Discount Tools)
2. Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing/OAMPS Insurance Brokers)
3. Matt Coleman (Matt Coleman Racing/Red Bull)
4. Marcus Marshall (TEKNO Autosports/AEG Power Tools)
5. Ross Rutherford (International Motorsport NZ/Woodstock Bourbon)
6. Rick Armstrong (International Motorsport NZ/Rick Armstrong Motors)
7. Paul Pedersen (International Motorsport NZ/Lakesawn Lumber)
8. Klark Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods)
9. Andrew Bagnall (International Motorsport NZ/Holiday Shoppe)
10. Peter Hill (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun)
11. Troy Hunt (MOG Sport/Talent 2)
12. James Cressey (Team VIP Petfoods)
13. Dean Grant (Becks Racing)
14. Chris Seidler (European Technique/Australian Home Warranty, Clipsal)
15. Jonathon Webb (TEKNO Autosports)
16. Peter Bradbury (Team MPS Security)
17. Hector Lester (Rodney Jane Racing/Bob Jane T-Marts, Bayside Dream Centre)
18. Stephen Borness (Celerity Racing/ Logi Add)
19. Mark Cummings (Peter Fitzgerald Racing)
20. Marc Cini (ADAMCO)
21. Peter Fitzgerald (Peter Fitzgerald Racing/ENJO, Acer)
DNF Fabian Coulthard (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun)
DNF Ash Samadi (Globe Racing)
DNF Roger Oakeshott (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun)
DNF Charlie O’Brien (Charlie O’Brien Motorsport)
DNF Allan Simonsen (Mark Coffey Racing/Barry Plant Doherty Real Estate)
DNF Tony Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods)
DNF Rodney Jane (Rodney Jane Racing/Bob Jane T-Marts)
DQ Matt Halliday (International Motorsport NZ/Giltrap Prestige)
Race 3 – Top 10 Results, Saturday March 6
1. Matt Halliday (International Motorsport NZ/Giltrap Prestige)
2. Alex Davison (Greg Murphy Racing/Glenfords Discount Tools)
3. Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing/OAMPS Insurance Brokers)
4. Fabian Coulthard (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun)
5. Allan Simonsen (Mark Coffey Racing/Barry Plant Doherty Real Estate)
6. Charlie O’Brien (Charlie O’Brien Motorsport)
7. Peter Fitzgerald (Peter Fitzgerald Racing/ENJO, Acer)
8. Ross Rutherford (International Motorsport NZ/Woodstock Bourbon)
9. Rick Armstrong (International Motorsport NZ/Rick Armstrong Motors)
10. Paul Pedersen (International Motorsport NZ/Lakesawn Lumber)
Race 2 – Top 10 Results, Friday March 5
1. Alex Davison (Greg Murphy Racing/Glenfords Discount Tools)
2. Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing/OAMPS Insurance Brokers)
3. Matt Halliday (International Motorsport NZ/Giltrap Prestige)
4. Peter Fitzgerald (Peter Fitzgerald Racing/ENJO, Acer)
5. Allan Simonsen (Mark Coffey Racing/Barry Plant Doherty Real Estate)
6. Fabian Coulthard (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun)
7. Charlie O’Brien (Charlie O’Brien Motorsport)
8. Rick Armstrong (International Motorsport NZ/Rick Armstrong Motors)
9. Ross Rutherford (International Motorsport NZ/Woodstock Bourbon)
10. Paul Pedersen (International Motorsport NZ/Lakesawn Lumber)
Race 1 – Top 10 Results, Thursday March 4
1. Matt Halliday (International Motorsport NZ/Giltrap Prestige)
2. Alex Davison (Greg Murphy Racing/Glenfords Discount Tools)
3. Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing/OAMPS Insurance Brokers)
4. Fabian Coulthard (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun)
5. Peter Fitzgerald (Peter Fitzgerald Racing/ENJO, Acer)
6. Marcus Marshall (TEKNO Autosports/AEG Power Tools)
7. Allan Simonsen (Mark Coffey Racing/Barry Plant Doherty Real Estate)
8. Charlie O’Brien (Charlie O’Brien Motorsport)
9. Jonathon Webb (TEKNO Autosports)
10. Rick Armstrong (International Motorsport NZ/Rick Armstrong Motors)
Qualifying – Top 10 Results, Thursday March 4
1. Alex Davison (Greg Murphy Racing/Glenfords Discount Tools) 2:02.733
2. Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing/OAMPS Insurance Brokers) 2:02.940
3. Matt Halliday (International Motorsport NZ/Giltrap Prestige) 2:03.504
4. Fabian Coulthard (Greg Murphy Racing/Team Braun) 2:03.684
5. Peter Fitzgerald (Peter Fitzgerald Racing/ENJO, Acer) 2:04.350
6. Allan Simonsen (Mark Coffey Racing/Barry Plant Doherty Real Estate) 2:04.975
7. Rick Armstrong (International Motorsport NZ/Rick Armstrong Motors) 2:05.008
8. Marcus Marshall (TEKNO Autosports/AEG Power Tools) 2:05.030
9. Jonathon Webb (TEKNO Autosports) 2:05.089
10. Charlie O’Brien (Charlie O’Brien Motorsport) 2:05.488
Release Date: 7/03/2004
Carrera Cup
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