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Allen claims wild Super3 Sandown opener, mixes with Super2 stars
In a wild Dunlop Super2/Super3 round 4 opener, Kai Allen put in a brilliant drive in the Eggleston Motorsport Holden Commodore VE to not only win the Super3 class – but also place seventh outright amidst the Super2 competitors as well.
The race finished under safety car conditions as Brendan Strong’s Commodore had stopped on the front straight, but Allen was in a class of his own in front for much of the chaotic Sandown opener.
RESULTS: Race 1, Round 4 at Sandown
Second place went to Allen’s major rival Brad Vaughan in the Anderson Motorsport Ford Falcon FG, who was eleventh overall. He had nine Super2 cars between he and third placed Ray Hislop (Nulon FG).
Allen started the race out of fourteenth, four grid spots ahead of Vaughan, was never challenged for Super3 honours and was as high as sixth outright before the two safety cars in the concluding stages.
Third into the round on points was Blake Fardell (Mr HDT Race Cars VE) but he was spun out at the first corner. Jim Pollicina (Mocomm VE) attempted to go the inside of a Super 2 competitor.
The resultant hit trigged contact into Fardell, the innocent and unlucky victim. Pollicina also spun and was handed a post-race 15 second penalty.
Hislop’s third gave him the Super3 Cup points ahead of Jarred Danaher (Turbo Brisbane FG), Jason Gomersall (Unit FG) and Super3 newcomer Jordan Michels in an Image Racing FG. Steven Page (VE) finished seventh ahead of Pollicina.
Fardell had to pit because of the initial incident to refit a wayward left front passenger door to finish ahead of James Masterton (VE) and Jason Foley in his Falcon BF. Garry Hills (VE) spun at turn one on his own and again at turn four when he was hit by race leader.
Chris Smerdon’s challenge for Super3 Cup honours disappeared when he spun off at turn nine while Tony Auddino (BF) was unable to get away on the warm up lap and did not start.
The Dunlop Super3 Series returns for a further qualifying session and Race 2 on Sunday, both sessions to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506.