R1 RACES - Brede a surprise winner in Konica opener
31/3/2002 21:18 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Dale Brede has won the opening round of the Konica V8 Supercar Series at Wakefield Park Raceway today, defeating championship favourite Paul Dumbrell.
The 26-year-old V8 Supercar sophomore, recruited to Craig Harris' Konica outfit this season as a long-term prospect, was impressive in holding out a fast-finishing Dumbrell to take victory in the final 35-minute race and seal a maiden round victory. Earlier, he finished second in the first two 20-minute races.
The win is Ford's first round victory in the Konica Series, now in its third season.
"This is a great result for me I had a lot of bad luck last year and was feeling quite a bit of pressure going into this weekend," said Brede, who as a rookie finished sixth in last year's junior V8 Supercar league.
Pole-sitter Dumbrell won the opening 20-minute race, keeping his Commodore's nose in front until the race was red flagged two laps from the scheduled finish when debutant Michael Turner stalled his car on the main straight.
Dumbrell and runner-up Brede were then relegated to the fifth row of the grid for the second heat; victims of their own success under the category's top ten reverse grid format.
Queenslander Craig Harris, who climbed 11 positions in the opening race to finish seventh, was awarded a spot on the second row for race two. He quickly swallowed pole-sitter Kevin Mundy and went on to record his first V8 Supercar race win.
Brede fought his way to second, while Dumbrell's over-zealous move on Greg Crick late in the race saw him spin and finish fourth.
Combined results from the first two races put Brede on pole for the final event and, despite losing his rear bumper, he was never headed throughout the 30-lap race.
A gallant Dumbrell hounded the back of Brede's Gulf Western Falcon over the dying laps before settling for second in the race and second in the points' standings.
"We had it in the back of our minds that the third race was longer and we would have to preserve the rear tyres," Dumbrell said. "I really put the pressure on Dale (Brede) towards the end but I couldn't quite get him."
47-year-old veteran Greg Crick looks set to play a similar role to David Parsons' Konica effort last year; today a formidable opponent for the sport's young up-and-comers in his Ross Halliday-prepared Ford. Two thirds and a fourth from the three races has him third in the championship.
Matthew White was fast throughout the weekend, but a spin in race two ended his challenge. He fought back to finish fourth in the final race to remain in title contention.
More than 9000 fans trekked to the rural New South Wales venue this Easter Sunday, a 20 percent increase on last year's Wakefield attendances.
The next round of the five-event Konica Series is at Phillip Island Raceway in early May.
Race one results: click here.
Race two results: click here.
Race three results: click here.
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