The first round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for Production Touring Cars was run and won on Sunday 26th May. Part of the third round of the Shannons Nationals, the race was a four hour, two driver test in wet and dry conditions around the iconic Victorian circuit. Driving one of the Pro – Duct Mitsubishi EVO Xs, team owner Bob Pearson and co driver extraordinaire, Glenn Seton paced themselves in the early stages then came home with a withering run on the damp track to claim victory by over a lap.
Bob is a long term member of the ARDC, winning the Club Championship back in 1995. Glenn has just re joined at the urging of Terry Thompson, ARDC Director, who helps out in the Pro-Duct team during race weekends. Glenn has lost none of his wet weather driving ability. The display of car control in slippery conditions during the last stint was awesome to watch. At one stage he was taking up to 7 seconds a lap from the second placed car. He also set a new lap record some 1.5 seconds faster than the previous time. The resurfacing of the famous Island track saw most lap records fall during the weekend. The new control tyre for the series is a Hankook and excellent preparation of the Pro-Duct EVO to suit this tyre played a big part in the win. Some teams seemed to have problems with the tyres but a number of cars sailed through the event with no rubber issues. The next round will be a three hour at SMSP in July, then on to QR in August before Wakefield Park in October with two 200km races – that will be a lot of laps of Wakefield.
The final will be at Sandown in November.
– Terry Thompson
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