News

26 October 2017 | General

KUMHO SERIES SET FOR TITLE DECIDER

Brad Jones Racing will seek to become the first main game Supercars Championship team to win the title with driver Jack Smith leading nearest rival Michael Anderson by 106 points ahead of the last three races of the year.

Third-placed Tyler Greenbury sits in third place and remains in contention 120 points from the lead with a total maximum score of 143 up for grabs should a driver score pole and three race wins at the 3.9km circuit in Sydneys West.

Smith is in his first season of Kumho Series competition and has also this year tackled the Super2 Championship with Brad Jones Racing.

After finishing third in the opening round at Phillip Island the SCT Logistics-backed driver had a stunning middle stanza of the championship that allowed him to build his commanding lead.

He won rounds at Winton and Queensland Raceway sweeping pole and all three wins at the Ipswich venue.

Chasing down the young star at the front will be privateer runner Michael Anderson who has starred this year having upgraded to an ex-Prodrive Racing Australia FG Falcon for this season.

After his shock pole position in round one of the championship Anderson has finished on the overall podium twice this season and notched up his first race win in the series last time out at Phillip Island.

Eggleston Motorsports Tyler Greenbury has put an unlucky start to the season behind him with great speed in the last two rounds finishing on the podium in Queensland and winning his fourth race of the year at Phillip Island recently.

While Greenbury may be an outsider for the overall title the battle for the final spots of the season 2017 podium are likely to be highly competitive.

Less than 50 points cover Anderson in second place Greenbury Phillip Island winner Jon McCorkindale and rookie driver Jordan Boys.

McCorkindale was superb in the wet conditions at the Victorian circuit en route to his first race and round victories in the Kumho Series.

Anderson and McCorkindale will also battle for the Kumho Cup (privateer) class title this weekend Anderson holding a 53 point lead over his Falcon rival in the standings.

Image Racings Boys won the opening round at Phillip Island this year and has since posted a string of consistent performances to remain in contention for a top three finish this season.

The field gathered for Sydney Motorsport Park includes a diverse mix of drivers in cars with a broad history in Australian Touring Car / Supercar competition.

Outside of the main contenders for the overall and Kumho Cup titles Jason Foley (ex-DJR BF Falcon) and Jamie McDonald (Ex-ProDuct Racing VP Commodore) will make their respective series debuts this weekend.

McDonald will join regular Brad Neill (ex-Parsons VS Commodore) and Andy Cantrell (Ex-GSR EL Falcon) in an expanded Heritage class competition. Neill leads the heritage class ahead of the final round and with closest rival Troy Stapleton not running will likely wrap up the title in race one.

Former ute racer Nandi Kiss (VE Commodore) and Gary Collins (ex-Perkins VE Commodore) also return to the series as does Warren Millet in his ex-Mark Skaife VZ Commodore.

Ten of the field will be racing in their home state giving local fans plenty to cheer for.

The Kumho Series grid tackles private practice on Friday ahead of qualifying and the first race on Saturday.

Sunday will see two further races conclude the Kumho V8 Touring Car series for 2017.

Saturday and Sundays action will be streamed live with links available via the Kumho Series website and facebook page.

ROUND 5 ENTRY LIST:

Car #

Class

SPONSOR

DRIVER

State

VEHICLE

CC

COLOUR

7

Kumho Cup

Mocomm Motorsports Communications

Jim Pollicina

NSW

Commodore VE

5000

Red

11

Kumho Cup

Kenwood Homes

Michael Anderson

NSW

Ford Falcon FG

5000

Red/White

12

Kumho Cup

Century 21 Hazelbrook

Chris Delfsma

NSW

Ford Falcon BF

5000

Red/Blue/Whi

17

Kumho Cup

TF Maintenance

Jason Foley

NSW

Ford Falcon BF

5000

Black/White

21

Championship

Brad Jones Racing/SCT Logistics

Jack Smith

QLD

Commodore VE ll

5000

Red/Grey

23

Kumho Cup

Massel

Michael Caine

NSW

Commodore VE

5000

Red

33

Heritage

McDonald Motorsport

Jamie McDonald

NSW

Commodore VP

5000

Black

36

Kumho Cup

Nandi Kiss Racing

Nandi Kiss

NSW

Commodore VE

5000

Whte

38

Championship

Eggleston Motorsport

Tyler Greenbury

QLD

Commodore VE ll

5000

Black

39

Kumho Cup

Vectra Corp

Chris Smerdon

SA

Ford Falcon FG

5000

Blue/Yellow

49

Championship

Image Racing/Lubrimaxx

Jordan Boys

VIC

Ford Falcon FG

5000

White

55

Heritage

Neill Motorsport

Bradley Neill

QLD

Commodore VS

5000

Blue

69

Kumho Cup

Dial Before You Dig/Mac Motorsport

Jon McCorkindale

NSW

Ford Falcon BF

5000

Green

77

Kumho Cup

Protrack Automotive Performance

Gary Collins

VIC

Commodore VE ll

5000

Black

88

Kumho Cup

WakeUp! Backpackers

Warren Millett

NSW

Commodore VZ

5000

Black/Red

111

Heritage

Custom Garage

Andy Cantrell

NSW

Ford Falcon EL

5000

Whi/Blue/Red

 

2017 SO FAR:

Round 1 (Phillip Island)

Pole Michael Anderson
R1 Tyler Greenbury Geoff Emery Michael Anderson
R2 Tyler Greenbury Josh Smith Jack Smith
R3 Jordan Boys Geoff Emery Jack Smith

Round Jordon Boys Geoff Emery Jack Smith

Round 2 (Winton)

Pole Jack Smith
R1 Jack Smith Tyler Greenbury Jordan Boys
R2 Tyler Greenbury Jack Smith Michael Anderson
R3 Jack Smith Jordan Boys Michael Anderson

Round Jack Smith Jordan Boys Michael Anderson

Round 3 (Queensland Raceway)

Pole Jack Smith
R1 Jack Smith Tyler Greenbury Anton DePasquale
R2 Jack Smith Anton DePasquale Tyler Greenbury
R3 Jack Smith Anton DePasquale Tyler Greenbury

Round Jack Smith Anton DePasquale Tyler Greenbury

Round 4 (Phillip Island)

Pole Jack Smith
R1 Tyler Greenbury Jack Smith Michael Anderson
R2 Jon McCorkindale Michael Caine Jack Smith
R3 Michael Anderson Jon McCorkindale Chris Smerdon

Round Jon McCorkindale Michael Anderson Michael Caine

STANDINGS:

  1. Jack Smith 451
  2. Michael Anderson 345
  3. Tyler Greenbury 331
  4. Jon McCorkindale 306
  5. Jordon Boys 298
  6. Michael Caine 242
  7. Jim Pollicina 229
  8. Josh Smith 208
  9. Chris Smerdon 207

10.  Anton DePasquale 119

Kumho Cup Standings:

  1. Michael Anderson 493
  2. Jon McCorkindale 440
  3. Michael Caine 381
  4. Jim Pollicina 357
  5. Chris Smerdon 331

Sydney Motorsport Park Lap Record: 1m34.2752s (Liam McAdam 2015).