Launceston circuit racing driver Scott Smith managed to hold the challengers at bay to score his first Tasmanian championship in the final round of the Tasmanian Super Series at Symmons Plains.
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Racing his Porsche GT3 in the Sports GTA category, Smith held a narrow four-point buffer over Hobart’s Layton Barker (Holden Commodore), with 150 points on offer.
Although Smith didn’t win any of the four races on the day, he finished either second or third, but more importantly, ahead of Barker in all events, to clinch the championship in only his first full season, after starting midway through last year.
On the same program, Hobart veteran Nino Bocchino claimed his second Formula Vee championship in more than 30 years of racing, but the day was embroiled in controversy.
Bocchino (Elfin Crusader) led Justin Murphy (Polar) by 44 points heading into the final round and after convincingly winning the first two heats, was in the box seat to wrap-up the title.
The third race produced a thrilling four-way battle involving Bocchino, three-time Australian champion Wade McLean (Elliott), of Devonport, Hobart’s Dion Wyllie (Spectre) and Westbury teenager Taylah Heath (Bee Cee).
Bocchino timed his run to perfection and looked a winner with 50 metres to go, but slowed noticeably on the finish line with McLean and Wyllie cannoning into the rear of his car.
Heath steered clear of the carnage to record her first race victory in the competitive class, with Bocchino hanging on to second and provisionally claiming the championship, although it could be subject to an official investigation into a post-race incident in the pit garage.
The most spectacular incident of the day came in the historic touring car category, with Hobart veteran John Douglas suffering a high-speed brake failure in his Holden Torana at the end of the back straight, traversing the sand trap and making heavy contact with the tyre wall.
Meanwhile, Hobart driver Phil Ashlin successfully defended his Tasmanian HQ Holden championship with a hat-trick of victories.
With the title still up for grabs, Ashlin had enough points that all he needed to do was finish in front of former champion Andrew Toth.
Ashlin duly won both heats and the double-points final, with brother Shane Ashlin riding shotgun to keep Toth at bay.
It was a similar story in the Hyundai Excel championship, with Peter Kemp finishing in front of third-generation racer and Hobart teenager Josh Webster in all four races to wrap-up back to back titles.