Jacobson wins chaotic Dunlop Series heat

Garry Jacobson took advantage of final lap contact between Todd Hazelwood and title rival Jack Le Brocq to inherit the victory in a drama-filled Dunlop Series opener at Sandown.

The Prodrive Racing driver held second for much of the race after side-to-side contact with Le Brocq at Turn 1 allowed Hazelwood through to the lead at the start.

While Hazelwood opened a healthy gap, all eyes turned to the battle for second as Le Brocq recovered from dropping to fourth to pile the pressure on Jacobson.

As the laps ticked by the pair managed to reel Hazelwood in to create a three car battle for the lead.

Although, Jacobson soon found himself demoted to third as Le Brocq completed a robust move on his team-mate at Turn 4.

However, the complexion of the race changed when the Safety Car was deployed when Anton De Pasquale, who held 10th, locked the rear and slid into the Turn 9 gravel trap.

Le Brocq made a strong restart but misjudged his braking for Turn 1 which saw him touch Hazelwood, forcing the pair off the road, handing Jacobson the lead.

The move allowed Jacobson through to a comfortable win while Muscat, who ran a lonely race in fourth, was promoted to second with Eggleston Motosport’s Paul Dumbrell in third.

Shae Davies came through an eventful race in fourth having occupied sixth behind Dumbrell for a large part of the running.

Taz Douglas was another to make the most of a chaotic finish to convert his 13th grid start to a fifth place finish ahead of Kurt Kostecki.

Hazelwood brought his Matt Stone Racing Commodore to the flag in seventh after he looked certain to score a maiden Dunlop Series victory.

Darwin teenager Bryce Fullwood enjoyed a eventful race to finish eighth, while Le Brocq and Andrew Jones rounded out the top 10.

James Golding was left to rue a brake lock up at Turn 9 early in the race, as he slipped from a promising top 10 to finish 12th, behind Adam Marjoram and Josh Kean, who suffered a spin at Turn 1.

Chelsea Angelo’s Dunlop Series return ended in disappointment after retiring with a mechanical issue.

The Matt White Motorsport racer was earlier awarded a drive-through penalty for causing contact with Jake Kostecki at Turn 1 on lap 2.

Kostecki joined Angelo, Alex Rullo and De Pasquale as retirements from the encounter.

The Dunlop Series returns for a second 22 lap race at 1520 local time.

Result: Dunlop Series Race 1

1	Challenger Valve Racing	Garry Jacobson	Ford Falcon FG/X	21	28:14.132
2	Wilson Security PAYCE GRM	Richard Muscat	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:14.991
3	Eggleston Motorsport	Paul Dumbrell	Holden Commodore VE2	21	28:15.654
4	DavBridge Constructions /MWM	Shae Davies	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:17.104
5	Eggleston Motorsport	Taz Douglas	Holden Commodore VE2	21	28:17.549
6	Kostecki Brothers Racing	Kurt Kostecki	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:17.647
7	iSEEK Communications	Todd Hazelwood	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:18.184
8	Middy’s Electrical /MWM	Bryce Fullwood	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:18.909
9	GoGetta Racing	Jack Le Brocq	Ford Falcon FG/X	21	28:19.134
10	Alliance Truck Parts Racing	Andrew Jones	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:19.753
11	Auto One	Adam Marjoram	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:20.007
12	Wynn’s Racing	Josh Kean	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:20.411
13	Wilson Security PAYCE GRM	James Golding	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:20.735
14	PAYCE	Macauley Jones	Holden Commodore VF	21	28:21.456
15	Cavalier Homes	Matthew Chahda	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:21.639
16	Team Caltex	Renee Gracie	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:22.068
17	STR Towing Equipment	Mathew Palmer	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:22.770
18	LMF Constructions	Marcus Zukanovic	Ford Falcon FG	21	28:22.986
19	Eggleston Motorsport	Liam McAdam	Holden Commodore VE2	21	28:23.182
DNF	Castrol Racing/Performance Wes	Alex Rullo	Holden Commodore VF	18	22:19.130
DNF	Paul Morris Motrosports	Anton de Pasquale	Ford Falcon FG	16	19:21.253
DNF	Wilson Medic One / MWM	Chelsea Angelo	Ford Falcon FG	11	14:07.292
DNF	Kostecki Brothers Racing	Jake Kostecki	Holden Commodore VF	7	8:43.925