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Golding, Macrow split the wins at Phillip Island
JAMES GOLDING and Tim Macrow are the big winners from a massive Saturday at Phillip Island in the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship.
Golding converted pole to a race win for the first time in his S5000 career in race one, while Macrow stormed from third to first to claim the second race and extend his championship lead.
RESULTS: Phillip Island, Races 1 & 2
STANDINGS: Following Race 2, Round 2
Golding’s race one performance came from pole position, making a perfect start to see off rival Joey Mawson on the run to turn one.
From there he pulled away throughout the 15-lap distance to lead home Mawson and claim his first win of the season.
Golding became the fourth different winner of the year and delivered the Valvoline GRM team their first win of the season as well.
It was the Victorian’s seventh S5000 victory – the most of any driver in category history.
Mawson’s second represented a solid points haul while Cooper Webster converted third on the grid to the same position at the finish to score his second podium finish of the year.
Macrow gained one position to finish fourth while Blake Purdie was impressive en route to fifth.
Shae Davies, Adam Garwood, Kaleb Ngatoa and Zane Goddard completed the runners, with the latter pair of BRM entries surviving wild rides off-track during the race.
Race two saw Blake Purdie and Zane Goddard share the front row, with Tim Macrow starting third. The latter made the best start and launched down the inside at turn one to grab the lead.
It didn’t last long, however, as Purdie sent his Nippy’s 88 Racing car down the inside at turn four to grab the lead with a surprise move.
Purdie’s time on point didn’t last long, however, as he survived a wild moment at turn one a lap later, spearing his car off the road at high speed.
That handed the lead to Macrow – one the two-time Gold Star champion wouldn’t give up.
He led home a tense freight-train of five cars who battled all race: Cooper Webster pressuring Macrow all the way, as he did in Tasmania.
Joey Mawson, in turn, harassed Webster all race to finish third and score enough points to edge out Golding for the feature race pole.
Goddard followed his teammate home, while Golding was next in a high-speed freight train of five.
Shae Davies was next, Kaleb Ngatoa survived a bounce across the road at turn 12 to finish seventh with Adam Garwood eighth – but showing impressive pace aboard his Giraffe Civil / GRM machine. Purdie retired his car following his off-track excursion at turn one.
The S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship returns with a third and final race tomorrow afternoon at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, to be broadcast live on Stan Sport.