After a drama filled day of competition that had just about everything, Team Lamborghini Australia driver Peter Hackett came away from the second round of the 2005 Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship, Porsche drivers Challenge with an extended points buffer at the top of the table after scoring two race wins at Queensland raceway on Sunday.

However, it was local ace Ian Palmer that took the overall round win, a consistent trio of results in the three races – combined with some non finishes from series pace setters – meaning that the Queenslander’s Brabham Honda NSX scored enough points to come away from the meeting with the overall win, and a much improved championship position after a tough opening round a month ago. Palmer was justifiably delighted with the result, coming after two years of hard work developing the car into a reliable front running package. “Perhaps there is a god!” he joked afterwards. “This is a bit of poetic justice, I think. Its great to finally achieve what we set out to do with the car when we started the project.” Palmer’s consistent weekend was capped off by a thoughtful drive in the finale, the 70kg success ballast imposed on the car thanks to its earlier race podiums meaning a Sunday afternoon cruise to collect points was the plan. “The guys told me before the race that I needed to finish eighth in the final 20 lap race, so I drove pretty carefully to make sure I got home and got the win. Its really, really nice to have some luck on our side for once after all the bad luck we have had in the past. I was telling Fitzy (Peter Fitzgerald) afterwards that now we have achieved what we set out to do with the car we can sell it and buy a Porsche!”

QUALIFYING

Lamborghini Driver Peter Hackett may have endured the late arrival of his car to the circuit, clutch dramas and a lack of practice laps before Saturday’s qualifying session for the second round of the Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship, Porsche Drivers Challenge but it didn’t stop the opening round winner from again showing his considerable talent, topping the times to snare pole for the first race on Sunday morning. The New South Wales based driver led a competitive field of GT and Porsche sports cars in near perfect conditions at Ipswich’ 3.12km Queensland Raceway, four manufacturers represented in the first four grid positions in a closely fought out 20 minute session this afternoon.

Hackett took his #5 Team Lamborghini Australia Diablo GTR to a best lap of 1m14.5315 to better opening round rival Bryce Washington by a scant three tenths of a second in what is increasingly becoming a tight battle between the man they call Hollywood and the Porsche Driver. Hackett said that he was happy to score pole after enduring a difficult build up to the session. “To be honest, im relieved that we have been able to score pole,” he said. “We have had a troubled build up to today – the car arrived late yesterday and we only managed to get five or six laps of practice in yesterdays sessions. Then today we had to change a clutch before the qualifying session so we are happy to be able to put the dramas behind us and take pole position for tomorrow.”

Chasing the menacing black Lamborghini was the #54 Adrad Radiators Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car of South Australian youngster Bryce Washington, who’s best time of 1m14.8332 narrowly missed the coveted pole position slot. After finishing a strong second in the opening round of the championship a month ago at Phillip Island, Washington’s strong qualifying effort boded well for race day, the Queensland track much more Porsche friendly when compared to the Islands flowing sweepers and straights. “We could have gone faster,” mused Washington after the session.
 

“But I’m pretty happy overall with our performance. The car is pretty good around here – we are faster than the Lamborghini in some places and get blown away in others but I think we have the pace to challenge it in tomorrow’s races” The third grid slot was reserved tomorrow for the #20 Instant Foundations Brabham Honda NSX turbo of Ian Palmer, the Queenslander showing ever increasing pace to record a 1m15.9103 to shadow the Porsche and Lamborghini throughout today’s session. Palmer’s attributed his stronger form at his home track to a number of technical changes instigated on the car since the opening round of the championship in late May. “The car is certainly a lot better into, and through, corners after we put the Limited Slip Diff in,” he the laconic Queenslander said. “I’m happy to be third, but I'm pretty certain that we could have got a low 1m15 second lap and been a bit closer to the front row. We just couldn’t get a clean lap with the red flags and the traffic out there today – but we are looking good for tomorrow!” Fellow Queenslander John Teulan’s #88 Industry Central Ferrari 360 Challenge took fourth place, ahead of the newly sponsored Quarterback #12 Porsche 911GT3RS of Mark Eddy and John Kaias’ ABCOR GT3 Porsche who rounded out a competitive top six contenders.

RACES

Hackett’s weekend – already compromised somewhat by a distinct lack of track time Friday – was again set back on race day when the car failed to finish the opening race after an Intermediate shaft in the gearbox failed. A charge through the field netted a win in the second race despite a failing clutch towards the end of the 17 lap race. A strong victory in the finale’ – after the TLA Crew replaced the clutch between races – was just reward for a tough weekend. “That was probably one of the toughest days I have had at a race meeting,” he said afterwards. “The team has done an incredible job to keep the car running and get it back out for every race and I was really happy with my driving as well. Two wins is just reward and an extended championship lead is a pleasant surprise considering the weekend we had.”

Championship rival – and series leader of the Australian Porsche Drivers Challenge heading into the round – Bryce Washington was another to endure a difficult weekend and rebound strongly, an opening race win his first for the season. A peculiar DNF in the second race after his outside safety kill switch was hit by a piece of errant rubber and turned off meant that a charge through the field in the finale was needed. Second at the end of 20 laps was a strong effort from the South Australian who continues to lead the Porsche Drivers Challenge points chase. Star of the meeting was arguably Phillip Holzberger, who was not only making the Australian race debut of his menacing ex Le Mans winning Porsche GT3 RS, but was making his first ever race start as well. After qualifying strongly, Holzberger scored top six results in each race today - including third place finishes in the second and third heats – to cap off a remarkable debut weekend for the Queensland driver.

In the provisional championship points table, Hackett (196) continues to lead ahead of Washington (162) and John Teulan – who had a consistent run in the Industry Central Ferrari to jump into 3rd overall in the series (146pts). The series now has a break before its back into action at Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Raceway, July 23/24.