HUNTER ROBB and Pro-Am racer Anthony Gilbertson have claimed their respective classes in a thrilling opening round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia series at Phillip Island.
It was, however, far from easy for either the Jones Motorsport Kiwi who claimed the Pro class, or the Pro-Am returnee back in the championship for the first time in more than seven years.
Robb’s pathway to the round one win came via victory in race two on Sunday morning, a Safety Car interrupted affair that saw him ultimately claim his second win of the weekend ahead of Lincoln Taylor and Kamal Mrad – the pair reversing their race one finishing order.
Things unravelled for Robb early in race three however after contact with Taylor at turn one as the pair battled for the race lead saw him spinning off wildly to the outside of turn one early in the race.
Taylor was penalised for the contact, while Robb visited pit lane before resuming at the back of the field in a bid to secure enough points to ensure he could claim the round victory.
That left a host of other contenders at the front looking to make their mark – and several of them did just that.
An incredible five-car fight for the lead saw several drivers swapping the race lead, including Xavier Avramides who assumed the lead following Robb’s off.
He was then passed late by Daniel Quimby, who executed an incredible pass at turn four when he sliced down the inside of both Avramides and Kobi Williams at turn four.
The FCL Transport / McElrea Racing driver held the lead for two laps before disaster struck just over one lap from home: a right-rear puncture stopping his quest for a first victory within sight of the last lap board.
The beneficiary there was Williams – who had just passed Avramides for second, a position that quickly became the race lead with just over 4.46km remaining.
Williams held the lead to claim a dramatic race win with Avramides and a charging Hayden Haikel completing the top three in the Jim Richards Enduro Trophy Race while Robb’s recovery to 10th in the Pro class was enough to ensure he held on to claim his first ever Porsche round win.
Robb claimed the Pro round ahead of Kamal Mrad and Avramides to lead the championship heading into Round 2 at The Bend in May.
In the Pro-Am class, Anthony Gilberton’s remarkable comeback weekend ended in a clean-sweep performance that included pole and victory in all three races.
He led home Stephen Moylan and Lachy Harburg in race two, before claiming victory in the enduro over Eric Constantinidis and Stephen Moylan. Moylan finished second overall in the class for the weekend – his best ever round result – while Eric Constantinidis finished third.
