Tweedie Extends F5000 Series Lead

Sydneysider Tom Tweedie has consolidated his lead in the 2013/14 Formula 5000 Australia Cup with an almost all-the-way win in the weekend’s feature event, run as a curtain-raiser to the V8 Supercars Wilson Security Sandown 500.

Tweedie’s Chevron B24 was beaten away from the rolling start by Aucklander Andrew Higgins (Lola T400), but burst through to lead half-way round the opening lap and was never challenged.

A potential three-way scrap for second between Higgins, kiwi legend Ken Smith (Lola T332) and Richard Davison (Lola T332), became a two-way one after two laps when Higgins’ brake pedal went to the floor at the end of Sandown’s long start-finish straight and he spun. Fortunately, following cars avoided the stationary car and he was able to rejoin, albeit with reduced braking capacity, and charge back through to an eventual fourth-placed finish.

To his delight, Davison – son of the great former AGP-winner Lex Davison and father of V8 Supercars stars Will and Alex – was able to see off the challenge from Smith and earn a well-deserved second place.

“I’ve ticked off one of my Bucket List items this weekend – racing on the same track as the great Ken Smith,” he beamed.

Melbournians Bryan Sala (Matich A50) and Andrew Robson (Lola T332) completed the top six.

Formula 5000 Australia Cup points after two rounds: Tweedie 110; Smith 83; Higgins 79; Sala 61; Aaron Lewis 45; Davison 41; John Bryant 31; Tim Rush 30; Darcy Russell 23; Andrew Robson 19; Tony Floriani, Rod Carroll 14; Clark Proctor 12.