The Summer Nats is the first important event of 2006, it would also be the debut of the new Xray T2.
Daisuke Yoshioha was our overseas visitor this time representing HPI.
With only three rounds of qualifying and limited practice it was important to be fast and ready when your car first hit the track.
Touring Car Stock
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Qualifying
The new T2 dominated qualifying taking the top two spots on the grid, with Luc Botton having about a four second break to 2nd qualifier Damien Zarb. Trent Cummings was the fifth qualifier also driving an Xray.
Top Ten Stock Qualifying 1. L Botton â“ XRAY T2
2. D Zarb â“ XRAY T2
3. S Parkinson
4. M Jones 5. T Cummings â“ XRAY T2
6. D Powell
7. P Ellis
8. B Johnstone
9. P Tomic
10.J Murphy
Finals
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The finals were as usual held over three legs. Unfortunately for Luc he had a few problems in the finals which coupled with Zarbs improvement in pace saw the first two position reversed with Damien coming through for the victory from Luc in second and Scott Parkinson in third. Trent Cummings ended up in a fine fourth postion.
Still 1st 2nd and fourth on debut for the new T2 cannot be at all bad.
Final Positions Stock
Pos Name 1. D Zarb â“ XRAY T2
2. L Botton (TQ) â“ XRAY T2
3. S Parkinson 4. T Cummings â“ XRAY T2
5. M Jones
6. D Powell
7. P Ellis
8. P Tomic
9. B Johnstone
10.J Murphy
Modified
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Qualifying
Daisuke set the pace right from the first round the only driver to manage 24 laps. Unfortunately the track conditions had changed significantly from the afternoon before and many driver suffered from some setup problems. Campbell, Clark and Zarb who had all been flying with their new Xrays now found themselves struggling and this would affect their qualifying efforts, still three cars in such a competitive final on debut was a great effort.
Top Ten Qualifying Modified
1. D Yoshioha
2. S Nicholson
3. A Abbott
4. A Linnan 5. D Campbell â“ XRAY T2
6. M Clark â“ XRAY T2
7. J Zarb â“ XRAY T2
8. A Bakla
9. B Vercoe
10.A Cooke
Finals
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Daisuke did not really seem to have the pace in the finals to be competitive, although he did come through for a win in the third leg. Darrin Campbell came through for a victory in the first leg after a great battle with Nicholson. Nicholson came through for a win from Campbell in the second final assuring these two drivers of first and second position.
All in all some great racing and hopefully a portent of what is to come from the fabulous new T2.
1. S Nicholson 2. D Campbell â“ XRAY T2
3. A Abbott 4. M Clark â“ XRAY T2
5. D Yoshioha
6. A Bakla
7. A Cooke
8. B Vercoe 9. J Zarb â“ XRAY T2
10.A Linnan
Conclusion
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Thanks must go the Illawarra Club for putting on a great event and to Trevor Johnstone for running the computer.
