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Harris leads Mazda SuperUtes 1-2

20 May 2018
BT-50s control race after Alexander penalty
3 mins by James Pavey
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Highlights: Race 2 ECB SuperUtes Series 2018 Winton

Mazda driver Ryal Harris edged team-mate Aaron Cameron to claim a third ECB SuperUtes victory in the second race for Round 2 at Winton Motor Raceway.

The EFS 4x4 BT-50 driver made his move on Cameron into Turn 7 on the second-last lap, holding the sister Peters Motorsport Mazda off to finish just 0.1626 seconds ahead.

  • Click here for full Race 2 results

Off the rolling start with a reversed top six, Craig Dontas took an early lead, having beaten polesitter Craig Woods to the first corner.

Toby Price got the jump on Harris, moving into third before he was spun on the opening lap by Race 1 victor Tom Alexander.

Dontas, though, only got as far as the end of that first lap, pitting with a snapped turbo hose clamp and later venturing out back out for six laps.

Alexander passed Harris for the lead heading into the second lap, before copping a drive-through penalty on lap four for the earlier incident with Price.

That handed the Mazdas control of the race, Harris leading until Cameron got past on the sixth lap.

The pair switched top spot again on lap eight of the 10, Harris eventually taking the win.

"It was good to be back on top after the dramas yesterday, and a fun battle with Aaron," Harris told Supercars.com.

“I couldn’t get to full throttle for a lot of the race, because there was an overboost issue, so that’s something we’ll look to resolve for Race 3."

Cameron battled back for the lead in the final two laps, but couldn't find a way past Harris.

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“It was good to fight it out with Ryal at the front, and to show we’ve got pace," said Cameron.

“I took too much kerb out of the sweeper, and locked the rears into Turn 7, which allowed Ryal down the inside.

“We made a change to the car after yesterday and it was better coming onto the straights, but not as good through the sweeper, so we need to find a compromise for Race 3.”

Woods finished third aboard the Western Sydney Motorsport Hilux, followed by Ben Walsh in another Toyota.

"The Hilux was heaps better than yesterday, we found a boost leak last night which we’ve since fixed," said Woods.

Tomas Gasperak was fifth in his Holden Colorado, the 16-year-old taking his career-best race result in SuperUtes.

Dakar Rally winner Price ultimately finished sixth in his factory-backed Triton, making his way back up from 10th after the tangle with Alexander.

Matthew MacKelden and Stephen Wilson occupied the next two spots, Wilson in his second race aboard the Isuzu D-MAX.

Alexander finished ninth after serving his drive-through in the SP Tools Holden Colorado.

Christopher Formosa rounded out the top 10, clashing with Price at Turn 10 on lap six.

The Ford Ranger spun off track and rejoined moments later with a cracked engine oil inlet.

The third and final race will commence at 12:10pm local time, with Cameron starting from pole alongside Alexander, followed by Harris and Price on the second row of the grid.

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