John Bowe wins 2014 Touring Car Masters

In a stellar season that included pole position and a lap new record at every round of the Touring Car Masters - a feat never achieved before, Coates Hire ambassador John Bowe was crowned the 2014 Touring Car Masters Champion, at Phillip Island today.

Bowe led yesterday's opening seven lap encounter from start to finish in his TransAm Mustang and was never troubled throughout to cross the line ahead of fellow Tasmanians Greg Crick (Charger) and Andrew Miedecke (Camaro). Completing the top six were Keith Kassulke (Falcon) Mark King (Camaro) and Andrew Fisher (Falcon).

The second reverse top 10 grid race saw Bowe start ninth and Miedecke eighth. The pair put on a spectacular battle as they worked their way through the field to finish one-two in the 10 lap event and despite Bowe's best efforts, he couldn't find away around Miedecke who held on to take the win, with Bowe right behind. Third went to Tony Karanfilovski (Mustang), from Greg Crick, Keith Kassulke and Bill Pye (Camaro).

Bowe's second place in the race was enough to secure the 2014 Touring Car Masters title to add to his championship wins in 2011 and 2012.

With the championship won, Bowe had the luxury of enjoying racing his TransAm Mustang, "Mustang Sally" on one of his favourite tracks, Phillip Island.

Bowe, Miedecke and Crick staged a race long battle with Bowe leading the first laps before dropping to third briefly, after a touch with Miedecke and with three laps remaining he regained second.

Across the line for the final time in 2014 it was a Tasmanian trifecta of Miedecke from Bowe and Crick. Fourth was Kassulke, followed by King and Karanfilovski completing the top six.

Of his three Touring Car Masters championship wins, there's no doubt this was the hardest fought.

John Bowe: "We've had a pretty good year in terms of results and the car has been terrific. I think it's probably fitting for all the people involved; Steve Makarios and Brendon who do all the work on the car and all the people who support me - sponsors, supporters and fans - I think it's appropriate.

"The car hasn't missed a beat. I had a DNF at Bathurst which was my own doing and certainly not the cars; that's two years without a mechanical problem and that's pretty good."