Multiple Carrera Cup champion Craig Baird has made it two-from-two with victory in the Sunday morning race at Sydney Motorsport Park.
After coming from seventh on the grid in a wet opening race, Baird was forced to start this morning’s dry race from fourth after a parc ferme infringement yesterday.
With damp patches still on the track, Baird got a great start after Michael Patrizi crept from pole. Heading into the opening lap Steven Richards got the lead ahead of Baird, with Patrizi continuing with a 5-second time penalty.
A dramatic moment came on the first lap when winner of Elite Class in Race #1, Tony Bates, went around while racing for seventh with Nick Foster.
An early Safety Car on lap #4 of 14 for Elite Class points leader Stephen Grove was called after contact with Duvashen Padayachee and was left stranded at Turn #2.
After the re-start Baird made a lunge on Richards and took the lead. Patrizi tried to make the most of the situation but ended up spinning when he made contact with Warren Luff.
From that point Baird controlled proceedings while Luff closed-in on Richards. Despite showing his nose throughout the final laps, Richards held onto second and edged further in front of Luff in the points chase.
Shane Smollen took the victory in Elite, with Ash Samadi and James Bergmuller filling the minor placings.
The final Carrera Cup race will be run at 2.35pm this afternoon.
VIDEO: Baird and Smollen speak after Race 2
RESULTS: Race 2 Carrera Cup – Sydney Motorsport Park
Pos | Â No. | Entrant | Driver |
1 | Â Â 1 | Â Bonaire/Wilson Security | Â Craig Baird (VIC) |
2 | Â 12 | Â Laser Plumbing & Electrical | Â Steven Richards (VIC) |
3 | Â Â 7 | Â No Second Chance/Phase 8 | Â Warren Luff (QLD) |
4 | Â 88 | Â Davbridge Constructions | Â Shae Davies (QLD) |
5 | Â 777 | Â Bob Jane T-Marts | Â Nick Foster (VIC) |
6 | Â 27 | Â Childhood Cancer Association | Â Sam Power (SA) |
7 | Â 77 | Â Bob Jane T-Marts | Â Nick McBride (VIC) |
8 | Â 26 | Â Copyworld | Â Michael Almond (SA) |
9 | Â 29 | Â Onsite Rental Racing | Â Michael Patrizi (SA) |
10 | Â 56 | Â McGrath Estate Agents | Â Shane Smollen (NSW) |
11 | Â 45 | Â VIP Petfoods | Â Duvashen Padayachee (NSW) |
12 | Â 11 | Â Royal Purple Oil/Garth Walden | Â Ash Samadi (NSW) |
13 | Â 13 | Â Porsche Centre Brighton | Â James Bergmuller (VIC) |
14 | Â 22 | Â V.I.P Homes Services | Â Brenton Ramsay (SA) |
15 | Â 24 | Â Alternative Freight/All Star | Â Tony Bates (VIC) |
16 | Â 23 | Â JBS Australia | Â Roger Lago (QLD) |
17 | Â 10 | Â Finance EZI/Foxtel | Â Maurice Pickering (QLD) |
18 | Â 39 | Â Veritas | Â Adrian Mastronardo (NSW) |
19 | Â 222 | Â Scott Taylor Motorsport | Â Scott Taylor (QLD) |
20 | Â 38 | Â Taylor Motorsport/Adina Apartm | Â Greg Taylor (NSW) |
21 | Â 55 | Â Fujitsu Racing | Â Renee Gracie (QLD) |
22 | Â Â 5 | Â Objective Racing | Â Tony Walls (QLD) |
DNF | Â Â 4 | Â Grove Group | Â Stephen Grove (VIC) |