QUEENSLAND V8 speedway driver Wayne Randall wrapped up an almost-perfect Tasmanian campaign with a thrilling last-lap win on Saturday night in Australia's richest speedway sedan event, the Latrobe Grand Prix.
Driving a car owned by Launceston's Steve Jessop, Randall started from position two in the 50-lap final, but slipped back to fourth at one stage, before charging home to take the lead for the first time in the race on the last lap, edging out New South Wales' Lachlan Onley and Tasmanian champion Jarrod Harper, of Hellyer Beach, for the victory.
The victory for Randall came after podium finishes in all three recent Tasmanian rounds of the National Super Sedan Series and a second place behind Lachlan Onley in Tasmania's longest running speedway feature event, the Tasmanian Grand National, in Hobart last week.
``We've raced this car all over Australia this season, but it's so nice for Steve and the team to bring it back home to Tassie and have an incredible run like we've had over the past few weeks,'' Randall said.
``To top it off with a win in this race is just brilliant. This is a prestigious race and I've been trying to win it for nine years now and I'm just so glad I finally have.
``The car's been great to drive and the crew have done a wonderful job and I just feel so confident every time I go out on the track.''
Things didn't go according to plan for Randall early in the race, and despite starting on the front row, he slipped back early as South Australian and pole qualifier Dave Gartner led for the first 14 laps.
Back in the pack, Onley, who started from grid 16, was putting in a great drive and looking at a podium finish late in the race after passing Randall into second.
Onley hit the lead five laps from the finish and looked set to claim the race, but Randall squeezed past on the last lap to claim a narrow victory.