R6K RACES - Kiwi Wills is Konica King
12/8/2001 21:23 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The 2001 Konica V8 Supercar Series trophy is heading offshore after Kiwi Simon Wills snared the coveted crown after a dramatic final round at Mallala Raceway today.
24-year-old Wills, a dual Australian Drivers Championship winner, clinched the series with a dominant three-from-three performance at the South Australian circuit.
After winning the opening race ahead of the only other man with a legitimate claim to the title, 18-year-old Paul Dumbrell, he disposed of his younger rival in the reverse grid second race with a storming drive from tenth to win.
The two clashed during the second race, jostling for position at turn two during an untidy start. Dumbrell hit Wills in the rear while taking evasive action, suffering terminal damage (broken steering rack) to his front end.
Dumbrell, who led the championship by 14-points ahead of the final round, then watched from pitlane as the title slipped from his grasp.
The Gibson Motorsport crew repaired Dumbrell’s Wynn’s Commodore for the final race, but by then the game was up.
Wills went on to record another win, a record tenth for the year, to cement the title.
"It was a shame Paul was out in race two, I would have liked to have raced him for the championship," Wills said.
“I am really delighted to take the championship and even more thrilled to win three out of three.
“There was a lot of pressure with the title on the line, but things have gone perfectly. It was also great to win the title at Mallala because my team is based here in South Australia and this is basically our home track.
The team behind Wills, Adelaide-based Biranna Racing, made their debut in tin top racing in this year’s series – as did Wills.
After winning the opening round at Wakefield Park in impressive style, Wills struggled to recapture that form over the next few rounds. At one stage, so disillusioned by the controversial reverse grid format that dealt him many un-winnable hands, Wills considered quitting the championship.
But he persevered over the final rounds, finishing second and third overall at Phillip Island and Lakeside respectively, to be within reach of the championship at Mallala’s season finale.
Dumbrell’s disappointment was obvious, but his achievements throughout the season, including two round victories, displayed a level of talent and maturity well beyond his years.
He’ll drive the second Garry Rogers Commodore with Leanne Ferrier at the upcoming endurance events, and beyond that his future looks bright.
Dumbrell stable-mate, David “Truckie” Parsons fought an uncompetitive set-up throughout the weekend and was never in a position to contest the title.
Despite leading the championship earlier in the year, he finished the season in third on the points standings, ahead of Owen Kelly and Leanne Ferrier.
Kelly, a round winner at Winton earlier this year, finished second overall today with a solid showing, ahead of NRC Racing’s Dale Brede – his best result of the year.
“We have proven that NRC Racing can mix it up with the best teams in this category all season,” Brede said,” this well-deserved result just confirms that.”
Meanwhile, Prancing Horse Racing’s much-anticipated V8 Supercar debut was a non-event after Mark Noske failed to make the grid in either race. Their absence remains a mystery.
**RACE ONE - TOP TEN**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore
2nd PAUL DUMBRELL (Wynn's Racing) - VT Commodore
3rd DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore
4th OWEN KELLY (John Faulkner Racing) - VS Commodore
5th DAVID PARSONS (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore
6th MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon
7th CRAIG HARRIS (Castrol Harris Racing) - AU Falcon
8th ADAM WALLIS (Scotcher Team SA) - EL Falcon
9th LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore
10th EDDIE ABELNICA (A & J Racing) - VT Commodore
**RACE TWO - TOP TEN**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore
2nd OWEN KELLY (John Faulkner Racing) - VS Commodore
3rd ADAM WALLIS (Scotcher Team SA) - EL Falcon
4th CRAIG HARRIS (Castrol Harris Racing) - AU Falcon
5th DAVID PARSONS (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore
6th MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon
7th TERRY WYHOON (Terry Wyhoon Racing) - VS Commodore
8th TIM ROWSE (Rowse Motorsport) - VS Commodore
9th GARRY HOLT (Eastern Creek Karts) - VS Commodore
10th DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore
**RACE THREE - TOP TEN**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore
2nd OWEN KELLY (John Faulkner Racing) - VS Commodore
3rd LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore
4th DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore
5th PAUL DUMBRELL (Wynn's Racing) - VT Commodore
6th DAVID PARSONS (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore
7th EDDIE ABELNICA (A & J Racing) - VT Commodore
8th MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon
9th ADAM WALLIS (Scotcher Team SA) - EL Falcon
10th DANIEL MILLER (Miller Racing) - VS Commodore
**CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE**
1st SIMON WILLS (Team Dynamik) - VT Commodore [1272]
2nd PAUL DUMBRELL (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore [1190]
3rd DAVID PARSONS (Gibson Motorsport) - VT Commodore [1168]
4th OWEN KELLY (John Faulkner Racing) - VS Commodore [1150]
5th LEANNE FERRIER (Garry Rogers Motorsport) - VT Commodore [1018]
6th DALE BREDE (NRC Racing) - VT Commodore [976]
7th TERRY WYHOON (Terry Wyhoon Racing) - VS Commodore [880]
8th MICHAEL SIMPSON (Michael Simpson Racing) - EL Falcon [840]
9th GARRY HOLT (Eastern Creek Karts) - VS Commodore [774]
10th CRAIG HARRIS (Castrol Harris Racing) - AU Falcon [742]
For complete race results:
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?12/08/2001.MALL
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