News July 4 2006

225 kmh spin puts Ferrari out of contention in Australian GT Championship

Bryce Washington (Porsche GT3) and Greg Crick (Dodge Viper) have staged an almighty battle for outright honours in the weekend’s (24-25 June 2006) fifth round of the 2006 Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship at Mallala Raceway, leaving Ferrari driver David Stevens to survive a 225 kmh spin to finish fifth.

The pair – the two top contenders in the championship battle since the opening round – traded race wins, fastest laps and even a side-by-side finish in a ferociously competitive round at the 2.6km South Australian circuit, Washington scoring his second round victory of the season after taking two of the three races.

Washington convincingly won this morning’s opening 20-lap encounter, before a late race flourish from Crick in the second saw the pair go side by side to the line in a thrilling finish. The final margin was .0161s after Crick was forced to avoid a lapped car as the two crossed the line.
A fifth place finish on rapidly diminishing rubber in the third race was enough to give the local driver overall honors by just four points.
“I had the guys on the radio during the final race saying ‘don’t lose any more positions’!” Washington said.

“The tyres were gone and I was also having dramas selecting gears which is why a couple of cars were able to pass me coming onto the start finish straight. I dropped to sixth but when Koundouris got a black flag I got back into fifth place and that was enough. “It’s been a really good weekend and it’s nice to take home the first place trophy.” He said.

Championship leader Crick had a competitive day, biding his time early in each of today’s races before an all out attack on Washington. The Viper then jumped to the lead off the start in the third race, eventually winning by three seconds and doing enough to secure second overall.

“If I had been on the money Friday I think we would have had a better chance today,” Crick said. “I was really happy with the car, it was very good. We’ve finally found a rear tyre that can last the entire race which meant we were able to challenge strongly all day today. ”We made some changes to the suspension between each race and it kept getting better and better. It’s been a good weekend and we haven’t lost too many points in the series.” He said.

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