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Herne extends lead with crushing Race 1 Adelaide win
NATHAN HERNE has extended his S5000 Tasman Series lead, leading lights to flag to claim a strong victory in the opening race at the VALO Adelaide 500.
Starting from the outside of the front row, Herne made the best start and out-dragged his teammate Aaron Cameron into the Senna Chicane.
Despite a resolute challenge from Cameron in the early stages, Herne was unshakable out front.
Cameron held second for the first six laps however an uncharacteristic error at Turn 11 on lap seven saw him clip the tyres and end his race.
Cameron ran wide exiting the corner and as he ran wide, clipped his right-rear on the tyre bundle, breaking the suspension.
Quick thinking saw the GRM driver exit the circuit before pit entry allowing the race to continue without interruption.
With Cameron out, Herne was handed a solid lead which he maintained to the line, claiming his fourth-straight victory.
Joey Mawson was elevated to second with Cameron’s demise, and pushed hard in the closing laps as he tried to chase down the leader.
His 1m16.8155s best on the 11th of 12 laps was the race’s quickest and stands as the new outright lap record of the 3.2km Adelaide Parklands circuit.
Cooper Webster had a quiet run to third, while former F1 star Giancarlo Fisichella made up one spot from his starting position to finish fourth.
The Italian matched the leaders for race pace throughout and looks a threat heading into race two tomorrow.
Jordan Boys was a quiet fifth in his Boost Mobile machine, chased home by Ben Bargwanna.
Blake Purdie and Tim Macrow were next having spent much of the race battling, while Noah Sands recovered from a slow start to finish ninth in the second Valvoline GRM entry.
Jude Bargwanna completed the top-10 on his first visit to the Adelaide Parklands circuit.
Sebastien Amadio, Mark Rosser, Brad Gartner and Elly Morrow completed the runners with all cars bar Cameron’s damaged GRM machine finishing the race on the lead lap.
The S5000 Tasman Series returns for Race two at 1:20pm on Saturday, with live coverage on Fox Sports, Kayo and the Seven Network around Australia.