Down to the wire

Paul Dumbrell has narrowed the points margin to series leader Cameron Waters by taking the victory in a safety car-marred race at the Coates Hire Sydney 500. 

Only 89 points now separate the two-time V8 Supercars Dunlop Series Champion from Waters, having taken the win after securing the race start. 

While Waters made four places from his starting position to finish eighth, he was robbed of the chance to move further up the field due to the prolonged safety car period.

The safety car was deployed as a result of the extensive clean up for Aaron McGill’s crash at the chicane on lap four, with oil spilt over the racing line. 

As McGill emerged from his Battery World Commodore, he made an impolite gesture to rookie Liam McAdam as he went passed the crash site, alluding to a possible clash between the two. 

The race was then resumed on lap 10, before ending on lap 11.

Having started second, Andrew Jones’ chances of challenging Dumbrell for the race start were hampered by a clutch issue that saw him light up his tyres in spectacular fashion. 

He was then swamped by Eggleston Motorsport’s Garry Jacobson, who followed his teammate home in second – his best race finish yet – while Jones salvaged sixth.

Todd Hazelwood rounded out the top three after duelling with fellow rising star James Golding, who took the chequered flag in fourth.

Jack Le Brocq trailed in fifth, with Shae Davies following Jones to the flag in seventh.  

Aaren Russell and Bryce Fullwood were ninth and tenth respectively.

Click here for the full results. 

Macauley Jones’ race was ruined when he was caught up in the early-race contact between Russell and Simon Evans. 

Evans was tagged on the entry to the first turn by Russell, which subsequently turned him into Jones and sent the 21-year-old into a spin, narrowly missing contact with any other cars.

The incident saw Evans and Jones finish outside the ten in 15th and 16th respectively.

The Dunlop Series will qualify again tomorrow for the deciding race of the 2015 Dunlop Series at 9.55am.