Leaders break away, lap 1 drama delays multiple cars
Aaron Seton, Todd Hazelwood, Lee Holdsworth lead early laps
James Moffat cops puncture, Nash Morris turned at The Cutting
A battle between Aaron Seton, Todd Hazelwood and Lee Holdsworth broke away off the line in Bathurst, as an incident at The Cutting and reliability reared its head early.
Aboard Zach Bates' pole winning #10 Bendix Chevrolet, third-generation racer Seton nailed the start and held Hazelwood at bay, with Holdsworth keeping Anton De Pasquale's #18 DEWALT Camaro in third.
The front three broke away from Lochie Dalton (#99 Erebus Chevrolet) and Scott Pye (#888 Triple Eight Ford), as Kai Allen behind — the only primary driver who started — slowly carved through from 11th.
The drama kicked off early, as three cars were delayed at The Cutting.
A clash between James Moffat and Tony D'Alberto sent Nash Morris' #777 PremiAir Camaro into a spin. Moffat's Team Valvoline Camaro picked up a right front puncture, while D'Alberto hit Morris with the front of his car.
Only Moffat was forced into the lane of the three, but Morris ran off the road at McPhillamy Park as he attempted to round up the ailing Garry Rogers Motorsport entry.
The Moffat car left behind tyre debris at the exit of The Chase, but officials let the race play on.
Away from the track, the Jackson Walls/Jack Perkins Ford was wiped out of contention with a power steering issue.
The #11 Objective Ford had been fitted with a new engine overnight, but Perkins was repeatedly forced into the pit lane as crew replaced a power steering pump.
