While his recent Australian Championship assault ended in a less than ideal fashion, leaving him with significant damage to his car, Luke Redpath recovered in spectacular fashion during last Saturday night’s Tasmanian Title at Carrick Speedway, creating history by achieving an impressive hat trick of
victories.
Being one of only a handful of Tasmanian drivers to travel to the mainland late last month to participate in the 2019 Australian Championship at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway, Redpath was challenging for podium contention during the all-important feature race, before his run was cut short due to a crash.
Despite making contact with the wall, it was accidental contact from another competitor after the crash that caused a substantial amount of damage, making it necessary for the Sassafras, Tasmania-based driver and his team to leave their Tas # 10 Floorworld – Devonport supported car with Cool Chassis owner John Cooley on the mainland for repairs.
In fact it wasn’t until Friday night, one day prior to the Tasmanian Title, that Redpath returned home with his car, just in time to defend his mantle.
Picking up a fifth and a win in his opening two heat races, Redpath crossed the line in second place in his third and final heat race, only to be relegated to fourth due to a starting position discrepancy, which was ultimately the difference between a pole position feature-race start.
Lining up on the outside of the front row, Redpath didn’t quite get the jump on pole-sitter Scott Thomsen, but he quickly made up ground on the early leader, pipping him just two laps in to take control of first place.
Forced to endure mounting pressure from Thomsen during the latter stages of the race, Redpath was able to pull away in the closing laps to claim a comfortable win; his eighth feature-race win of the season.
“The Australian Championship was definitely disappointing for us, but to be able to bounce back with a Tasmanian Title hat trick is a massive accomplishment and a great feeling,” admitted the 30-year-old racer, who was also running double duties on the night in his Speedcar.
“I can’t thank my team enough for their efforts during the Australian Championship and in the lead up to the Tasmanian Title. There have been multiple trips to the mainland and back, along with a lot of hours in the workshop trying to get the car ready for this title. Without the help of everyone involved, we wouldn’t have had a chance to defend it.”
Having recently taken the lead in the Webster Trucks Statewide Series, Redpath will hope to consolidate that lead in the final two race meetings of the season, which will take place on March 23 and March 30 at Latrobe’s Gulf Western & Independent Oils Raceway and Carrick Speedway respectively.
Redpath would like to thank the following 2018-19 season sponsors for their continued support:
Floorworld – Devonport
Ceramic Coatings – Longford
Statewide Turbos and Diesel Injection
Lewy’s Auto Glass
Redpath Haulage
JMR Labour Hire
Maxima Racing Oils
D-Signs
Special thanks go to Phil Collins for allowing Redpath to store his car on his property while it remained on the mainland, Cameron McCarthy, Brock Webster, Mal Lee, Mick Gee, and Redpath’s family and friends.
To find out more about Redpath and his team, LIKE them on Facebook by searching Redpath Motorsport.
