R1K RACES - History-making Ferrier pipped by Wills
25/2/2001 20:03 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Simon Wills won an intriguing Konica V8 Supercar Series round at Wakefield Park Raceway today, fending off history-making rookie Leanne Ferrier.
A sexually equitable podium was a feature of the first event of the new series; Wills sharing the spotlight with the first lady of Australian motorsport, Leanne Ferrier. Gibson Motorsport’s Paul Dumbrell finished third on overall points.
Wills, 24, was the dominant force at a humid Wakefield Park today, winning two of the three races in impressive style.
"It's a fantastic result," Dynamik Racing’s (Biranna Racing) Wills said. "It was a hard day for me with everyone spinning in front of me in race two, but I was happy about the safety car in race three!"
The safety period that Wills refers was the only stumbling block in a dream debut for Garry Rogers Motorsport’s Leanne Ferrier. Ferrier looked set to become the first female to win a V8 Supercar race in the third heat, before the yellow flag halted her charge.
Despite the disappointment, two second-place finishes after an eighth in the first race has the 20-year-old looking to rewrite the history books over the six-round championship.
“There is only one thing I would change today – that's the safety car in the third race," a delighted Ferrier said.
"People were coming up to me in the pits asking for autographs and saying how well I went. I have never had that kind of support before,” the former Formula Ford winner said.
Like Ferrier, Paul Dumbrell was the major beneficiary of the reverse grid format in the second race. The teenager won it ahead of Ferrier.
"I'm stoked," 18-year-old Dumbrell exclaimed. "I am very surprised to have come third (overall) after being turned around in the third race."
Queenslander Michael Simpson played a lone hand for Ford, driving his ex-Stone Brothers EL Falcon to fourth on the overall points table. It could have been better, had an off-track excursion in the second race not relegated him to a lowly 16th. The car’s former owner, SBR Manager Ross Stone, was on hand to aid in the impressive debut.
Despite qualifying second, NRC Racing’s Dale Brede had a forgettable V8 Supercar initiation – broken steering, a damaged tyre bead-lock and continuing handling problems ruining his day.
“There are many positives that came out of this weekend and we need to understand more about V8 Supercar racing strategies – this will come with more racing experience,” Brede said.
From the front row, Brede leapt off the line in the first race and powered past pole-sitter Simon Wills to lead the 22-car field through the first turn (minus Rod Salmon, Richard Mork and Daniel Miller who all failed to make the grid).
Wills wrestled the lead away from Brede before the first lap was completed, slipping past the NRC Racing Commodore on the second last corner. Not even a safety car period mid-race could then halt Wills’ charge towards the chequered flag.
The handling problems that plagued Brede during qualifying remerged early in the first race, allowing Michael Simpson and Owen Kelly the opportunity to advance. Brede finished ahead of David Parsons and Garry Holt.
After falling back to tenth in the first race, Paul Dumbrell was promoted to pole position for the second under the top-ten reverse grid regulations, and made the most of his opportunity.
Dumbrell’s Wynn’s-backed Commodore led Mal Rose and Leanne Ferrier early, which is how it would stay for the remainder of the race. Ferrier eventually claimed second behind Dumbrell, ahead of the quiet-achieving David Parsons.
Brede and Garry Holt’s coming together mid-race did their hopes harm (Brede broke a steering arm in the altercation), while Owen Kelly failed to finish. Simon Wills fought tooth-and-nail for seventh, after spinning traffic pushed him back to 19th in the early stages of the race.
Leanne Ferrier, growing in confidence as the day progressed, looked a winner in the final 17-lap duel – powering away from a determined Simon Wills to lead for the better part of the race.
The third safety car of the day made an appearance towards the end of the final sprint, allowing Wills to ride the bumper of Ferrier on the restart with just five laps remaining.
Ferrier radioed boyfriend Garth Tander moments before the green flag was shown, wanting advice on how to fend off Wills’ Commodore. However not even the verbal coaching of last year’s Bathurst champ could stop Wills from crowding Ferrier’s mirrors, applying maximum pressure before a locked break from Ferrier presented Wills the opportunity.
Wills won the third heat, his second for the day, ahead of a gallant Ferrier. Simpson was the big mover, finishing third.
Wills collected 234 valuable championship points for his efforts today, 24 more than Ferrier did. Paul Dumbrell joined them on the overall podium.
More than 8000 attended today’s Wakefield Park V8 inauguration – the biggest crowd yet in the Konica Series’ short history.
Said a beaming AVESCO CEO Wayne Cattach; “It is great to see the Konica V8 Supercars getting such good support. The crowd turnout is fantastic.”
Konica competitors resume their battle at Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway in three weeks.
**RACE ONE - TOP TEN**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore
2nd MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon
3rd OWEN KELLY (John Faulkner Racing) - VS Commodore
4th DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore
5th DAVID PARSONS (David Parsons) - VT Commodore
6th GARRY HOLT (Eastern Creek Kart Racing) - EL Falcon
7th CRAIG HARRIS (Castrol/Harris Racing) - AU Falcon
8th LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore
9th MAL ROSE (Mal Rose Racing) - VS Commodore
10th PAUL DUMBRELL (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore
**RACE TWO - TOP 10**
1st PAUL DUMBRELL (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore
2nd LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore
3rd DAVID PARSONS (David Parsons) - VT Commodore
4th MAL ROSE (Mal Rose Racing) - VS Commodore
5th CRAIG HARRIS (Castrol/Harris Racing) - AU Falcon
6th RIC SHAW (Ric Shaw Motorsport) - VS Commodore
7th SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore
8th TERRY WYHOON (Terry Wyhoon Racing) - VS Commodore
9th ADAM WALLIS (John Scotcher Motorsport) - EL Falcon
10th DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore
**RACE THREE – TOP TEN**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore
2nd LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore
3rd MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon
4th MAL ROSE (Mal Rose Racing) - VS Commodore
5th TERRY WYHOON (Terry Wyhoon Racing) - VS Commodore
6th GEOFF FULL (RPM International Racing) - EL Falcon
7th PAUL DUMBRELL (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore
8th DAVID PARSONS (TBA) - VT Commodore
9th PHONSY MULLAN (GM Motorsport) - VS Commodore
10th ALAN HEATH (Power Racing) - AU Falcon
**POINTS THIS ROUND/CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore [234]
2nd LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore [210]
3rd PAUL DUMBRELL (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore [190]
4th MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon [186]
5th DAVID PARSONS (TBA) - VT Commodore [184]
6th MAL ROSE (Mal Rose Racing) - VS Commodore [180]
7th DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore [148]
8th CRAIG HARRIS (Castrol/Harris Racing) - AU Falcon [148]
9th TERRY WYHOON (Terry Wyhoon Racing) - VS Commodore [134]
10th RIC SHAW (Ric Shaw Motorsport) - VS Commodore [126]
For complete race results:
http://www.racetime.com.au/racedata/i0108/
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