YOUNG GUN Kobi Williams has claimed his maiden Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia round victory, as a result of two race wins and a second-place finish in Race 2 at the NTI Townsville 500. 

As the fourth winner in as many rounds, Williams firmly established himself as a serious contender in the 100th championship round of the one-make series.

While Williams claimed the round win, his Tyler Greenbury Racing teammate Ryan Suhle also enjoyed a strong weekend in his return to racing. The pair delivered one-two finishes across all three races and were tied for points, with Race 3 proving the ultimate decider.

Suhle won the JR Enduro and led the early stages of the final race before a bold move by Williams at Turns 8 and 9 sealed the race and round win.

Third overall was Hunter Robb, who was in the mix all weekend, with two third-place finishes to keep his championship hopes alive.

Sunday’s running began with the 45-minute Jim Richards Enduro Trophy race, which was red-flagged on the opening lap after contact between Eric Constantinidis and Ben Taylor squeezed the latter into the wall; Taylor’s car then ricocheted back across the track and collected Stephen Moylan, who had nowhere to go. Pro-Am runners Mark Darling and Marc Cini were also caught in the fray, but were able to front Race 3 later in the afternoon.

Racing recommenced with seven minutes to go, setting up a dash to the finish as Williams controlled the field at the restart. He wouldn’t hold the lead for long, though, with Suhle diving down the inside at Turn 1 and Robb also able to capitalise, sending Williams back to third. The Race 1 winner fought his way back past the New Zealander, but Suhle was out of reach.

After a difficult start, Lincoln Taylor finished fourth by way of a late pass on Targett, who finished fifth. Xavier Avramides, Daniel Quimby, Kamal Mrad, Ruairi Avern and Diesel Thomas were sixth through 10th, battling throughout the mid-pack in the closing laps.

Williams nailed the Race 3 start, sweeping around the outside of Suhle, but the pole-sitter answered immediately, using the switchback at Turn 2 to reclaim the lead.

Quimby improved steadily over the weekend, recording his best result of the three races, finishing fourth for McElrea Racing.

Hayden Haikal was the big mover, climbing six positions to finish sixth and showing genuine race pace on his way to the fastest lap (1m16.0018s), while Lincoln Taylor (fifth) and Hunter Robb traded blows at Turn 5.

In Pro-Am, Anthony Gilbertson swept the weekend, taking out the round honours. In Race 2, post-race penalties for Indiran Padayachee and Dean Wanless adjusted the final order, with Kent Leicester ultimately finishing third in class. Tim Farrell recorded back-to-back second-place finishes, with Wanless completing the Race 3 podium.

The Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia returns for its penultimate round of the season at Sydney Motorsport Park in September.