Jacobson wins Dunlop Series in wild final race

Garry Jacobson has won the 2016 Dunlop Series after finishing fifth in Race 2 at the Coates Hire Sydney 500.

His Prodrive Racing Australia team-mate Jack Le Brocq won the race, while Adam Marjoram nearly rolled in a wild first-lap crash.

Le Brocq jumped well when the lights went out, while Jacobson let James Golding and Taz Douglas through in the opening corners.

Behind, mayhem unfolded at Turn 1 when Anton de Pasquale attempted to sidestep Richard Muscat but instead bumped Macauley Jones into the tyre wall.

Marjoram and Kurt Kostecki tangled as they attempted to thread their way through, tipping the Auto One Falcon high up on two wheels in a manner befitting of a stunt driver.

Matt Chahda sustained significant front-end damage, while Renee Gracie lost two laps attending to a broken tie-rod she suffered in the incident.

Le Brocq soon built a comfortable lead following the Lap 5 restart, while Jacobson, who needed only to finish to win the series, was not putting up a fight as he let Todd Hazelwood take over fourth.

Hazelwood then passed Douglas for third on Lap 10 as he made sure of third in the series standings.

Le Brocq’s GoGetta Falcon crossed the line first in the shortened 15-lapper ahead of Golding, Hazelwood, Douglas, and Jacobson.

Andrew Jones held out Richard Muscat for sixth, with de Pasquale, Bryce Fullwood, and Josh Kean filling out the top ten.

Le Brocq won the round after victory in Race 1 a day earlier, but the moment was Jacobson’s as he delivered PRA a second straight Dunlop Series title.

“I’m just absolutely stoked,” said the new champion.

“It’s a lot of pressure no matter what championship you’re in. I haven’t won a championship in a while.

“Back in Formula Ford (in 2012) I couldn’t even complete it because I had a broken arm, so to come back from a broken arm and win here, with Prodrive, and Tim Edwards giving me an opportunity, I’m just stoked.”

The 2017 Dunlop Series commences at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, March 2-5.

Result: Dunlop Series Race 2

Pos	Competitor/Team	Driver	Vehicle	Laps	Race Time
1	GoGetta Racing	Jack Le Brocq	Ford Falcon FG/X	15	27:17.4115
2	Wilson Security PAYCE GRM	James Golding	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:19.8439
3	iSEEK Communication	Todd Hazelwood	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:27.4086
4	Eggleston Motorsport	Taz Douglas	Holden Commodore VE2	15	27:30.4983
5	Challenger Valve Racing	Garry Jacobson	Ford Falcon FG/X	15	27:31.3485
6	Alliance Truck Parts	Andrew Jones	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:33.2537
7	Wilson Security PAYCE GRM	Richard Muscat	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:33.6825
8	Paul Morris Motrosports	Anton de Pasquale	Ford Falcon FG	15	27:34.1751
9	Middys Electrical / MWM	Bryce Fullwood	Ford Falcon FG	15	27:34.5678
10	Wynns Racing	Josh Kean	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:41.5043
11	Kostecki Brothers Racing	Jake Kostecki	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:42.9075
12	Castrol Racing/Performance Wes	Alex Rullo	Holden Commodore VF	15	27:57.0738
13	Wilson Medic One / MWM	Chelsea Angelo	Ford Falcon FG	15	27:58.5127
14	STR Towing Equipment	Mathew Palmer	Ford Falcon FG	15	28:23.1222
15	Team Caltex	Renee Gracie	Ford Falcon FG	13	28:20.3609
DNF	Auto On	Adam Marjoram	Ford Falcon FG	1	2:50.7124
DNF	PAYCE	Macauley Jones	Holden Commodore VF
DNF	Kostecki Brothers Racing	Kurt Kostecki	Holden Commodore VF
DNF	Cavalier Homes	Matthew Chahda	Ford Falcon FG