McHugh and Brims Battle Again
17/12/07…SSA Media Release
After an interruption to the status quo at the previous round, the 2007/2008 Ian Boettcher Volkswagen Super Sedan Championship Series returned to ‘normal’ at Lismore Speedway on Saturday, December 8 with Jamie McHugh and Wayne Brims once again locked in combat at the front of the field in the 30-lap feature race. Despite some wet weather-induced difficult track conditions, the Gold Coast-based duo were again the class of the field as they continued their battle for championship supremacy.
On this occasion, it was McHugh who emerged victorious after qualifying his Ian Boettcher Race Parts Mazda RX8 on pole position. Having started alongside McHugh on the front row, Brims trailed throughout to annex second spot on his home track. Between them, the pair have now won seven of the eight events contested and it has only been greater consistency from Brims that enabled him to maintain narrow points advantage.
Craig McGeorge secured his best result of the season, piloting his AS Concrete Pumping Pontiac into third spot ahead of Steve Pearce (Amazing Signs Ford Taurus) and Ian Brims. Barry Craft was next best, with Matt Pascoe proving the big mover through the field in advancing his immaculately presented Duce Windows and Doors Dodge from 14th to 7th. Newcastle’s Brett Smith was next best, while David O’Keeffe was the only other driver to go the distance.
Heat wins were shared between McHugh, Pearce, Wayne Brims, Ian Brims, Geoff Phillips and Australian champion Michael Gee (Dupont Performance Coatings Ford Taurus). Both Phillips and Gee, along with local favourite Tania Smith and comeback driver Colin Moss, failed to take their place in the feature event. Meanwhile, the Dash saw McHugh finish ahead of Wayne Brims, Paul Geary, Ian Brims, McGeorge and the luckless Gee, who has endured a very frustrating start to the new season.
The feature race started in spectacular fashion when a bunched field and bumpy conditions resulted in Geary finishing upside down on the opening lap. As the laps wound down, Ashley Bergmeier, Will Gould, Wayne Miles and Trevor Brehmer joined the casualty list on what was a torrid night of competition. Seemingly oblivious to the chaos unfolding around them, McHugh and Brims led the field a merry dance in a continuation of a duel that has raged since the opening round of competition.
At the halfway stage of the series, Brims sits atop the championship standings just 42 points ahead of McHugh, with McGeorge now holding a slender advantage in a three-way scrap for third, albeit more than 500 points adrift of the leaders.
This event will feature on the Chequered Flag program that will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports on Tuesday, December 18 at 8.30pm.
2007/2008 Ian Boettcher Volkswagen Super Sedan Championship Series progressive pointscore (top ten): Wayne Brims 1253, Jamie McHugh 1211, Craig McGeorge 666, Steve Pearce 632, Ian Brims 618, Barry Craft 498, Darren Kane 446, Des Korn 356, Chris Albert 352, Geoff Phillips 335
Results
Heat One: 1. Geoff Phillips, 2. Barry Craft, 3. Ashley Bergmeier, 4. Wayne Brims, 5. Wayne Miles
Heat Two: 1. Ian Brims, 2. Jamie McHugh, 3. Paul Geary, 4. Michael Gee, 5. Tania Smith
Heat Three: 1. Michael Gee, 2. Brett Smith, 3. Jamie McHugh, 4. Barry Craft, 5. Will Gould
Heat Four: 1. Wayne Brims, 2. Craig McGeorge, 3. Tania Smith, 4. Paul Geary, 5. Geoff Phillips
Heat Five: 1. Jamie McHugh, 2. Wayne Brims, 3. Craig McGeorge, 4. Ian Brims, 5, Wayne Miles
Heat Six: 1. Steve Pearce, 2. Paul Geary, 3. Michael Gee, 4. Ashley Bergmeier, 5. Will Gould
Dash: 1. Jamie McHugh, 2. Wayne Brims, 3. Paul Geary, 4. Ian Brims, 5. Craig McGeorge, 6. Michael Gee
Feature Race: 1. Jamie McHugh, 2. Wayne Brims, 3. Craig McGeorge, 4. Steve Pearce, 5. Ian Brims, 6. Barry Craft, 7. Mat Pascoe, 8. Brett Smith, 9. David O’Keeffe, DNF – Paul Geary, Will Gould, Wayne Miles, Ashley Bergmeier, Trevor Brehmer
The 2007/2008 Ian Boettcher Volkswagen Super Sedan Championship Series is supported by the following sponsors:
Ian Boettcher Volkswagen, Australian Garages and Carports, Sport Engines, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Racer Pro, Miami Smash Repairs, Art by Mickey, Hoosier Racing Tyres, AFCO Shock Doctor, Ian Boettcher Race Parts, UMR Engines