Leonard Smith RacerViews was at the Shannons Nationals over the weekend and we caught this great Kerrick Sports Sedan action.
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Two race wins today at Queensland Raceway have delivered Tony Ricciardello and the #5 B&M Ricciardello Alfa Romeo GTV yet another clean-sweep in the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, bringing his Series winning streak to 15 races straight.
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Ricciardello led home last year’s QR round winner Darren Hossack (#4 Audi Union Deutsche Audi A4), returning six-time champion Kerry Baily (#68 Rent Depot Aston Martin DBR9), series veteran Phil Crompton (#12 Moombi Pil Traders Ford Mustang) and Michael Robinson (#32 Bell Real Estate Holden Monaro) in both of the 12 lap races.
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Their performances saw Ricciardello and Hossack awarded first and second for the round respectively, while third went to Phil Crompton. Baily took third from each race, however as a ‘State of Origin’ competitor the Queenslander is not eligible for national Series points.
Robinson – fourth for the round – was also recognised on the podium, awarded the Kerrick award at the presentation following a weekend of hard-charging races for the Victorian which included a charge from tenth to fifth this morning.
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Robinson was part of a number of battle packs across the weekend which also included Shane Bradford – who retired in the #68 Aston Air Conditioning Chev Camaro from race 3 after two laps with engine issues following earlier problems – as well as Colin Smith (#44 MR Automotive Holden Monaro), Bob McLoughlin (#51 Marinellos Mechanical Commodre VS) and Bruce Banks (#1 BJ Banks Electrical Mazda RX7).
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For race results and round points, please see below or go to http://www.sportssedans.com.au/index.php?page=results. The Kerrick Sports Sedan Series will now head to Phillip Island for its penultimate round of the Series at Phillip Island across September 19-21.
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Round Winner, 1st in race one, two and three – Tony Ricciardello, #5 B&M Ricciardello Motors Alfa Romeo GTV
“It (another clean-sweep) is a credit to the guys, it has been one of those weekends where we could just tinker with things. There is a lot of maintenance we have been doing at night as we keep the car in Melbourne or Sydney between rounds to try and keep the costs down for us so that means that we are the last ones to leave the track each night and it is a credit to the guys, and it was a really good weekend. Looking ahead to Phillip Island, I think it is one of those tracks where we can never quite get our head around it. The car is going pretty well and hopefully we can just continue and have a good run there without any problems. Darren is going to be pretty hard to beat as he is very quick there, but we are going to give him a push and go for it.”
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Round Runner-Up, 2nd in race one, two and three – Darren Hossack, #4 Auto Union Deutsche Audi A4
“I am happy to finish three races. We need more speed as Tony has taken a bit of a step forward – we have been working on making the car finish which is first and foremost what you have got to do, and he has got a bit quicker. We know where we need to be quicker, he just gets out of the corners well and at Winton our speed was probably pretty similar but he gets out of the corner so well that I can’t pass him under brakes as I am playing catch up a bit. I am happy all in all, but we need to be quicker. Phillip Island suits our car but tony will be close to us down there, I have raced him long enough now to know that he is always going to be competitive, so if we are better it will not be by much.”
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Third for Round, 4th in race one, two and three – Phil Crompton, #12 Moombi Oil Traders Ford Mustang
“Thank you to Kerrick for their tenth year supporting us. It has been a great weekend, because it actually went to plan somewhat. We came here with some goals to achieve and we achieved them early in the practice sessions, so we stepped them up a little bit for qualifying and then we actually exceeded them as well. So I thought hopefully I can stay in touch with Kerry if I try a bit harder but it wasn’t to be. In race one I think I overdrove the car and half destroyed the tyres but we made some adjustments by race three and the car was really consistent. The car is reliable, I’ve had a good weekend. At the moment (going to Phillip Island) is the plan, we have a little bit of work to do, but I think when you are on a roll you’ve got to keep going.”
Kerrick Award, 10th in race one, 5th in race two and three – Michael Robinson #32 Bell Real Estate Holden Monaro
“I want to thank Kerrick, without them we couldn’t do this. I am very happy with the weekend, it is about time! The main change was to put 18 inch wheels on the car which made a big difference. Consistency clearly pays off, previously we would drop off after the second or third lap and struggle and struggle, but this weekend with these tyres it just held the grip a lot more and we were able to race. When you have four cars within a second like we did today you get a good bit of racing and it was good fun, I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to get to Phillip Island, we haven’t been there since about November last year and now that we have the car sorted a bit and some tyres I am really keen to get down there.”
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Kerry Baily, third in race one, two and three – #58 Rent Depot Aston Martin DBR9
“The other cars have improved somewhat since we raced out here last, Tony especially seems to be on the money better than he was and their cars come out of the corners better than mine, that may be the driver or it may be the car. Phillip Island will be a little bit different but I am a little bit disappointed about not being closer to them today. I would like to (make up for that at Phillip Island) because the car likes Phillip Island and I don’t mind it. Tony struggles a bit there and Darren will be very quick there so I think Darren will have the money on Tony, and I don’t know where Kerry will be,” chuckled Baily.
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Photos by Leonard Smith August 2014
Words by PR materials
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