Miedecke and Mason Make it Three From Three

Andrew Miedecke swept the field over the weekend in the Touring Car Masters races as part of the Wilson Security Sandown 500.

The three-way title hunt has now tightened up between the Chevrolet Camaro driver and racing greats Jim Richards and John Bowe.

In Class B, Steve Mason overcame drama to keep his Shelby on track, taking three from three class race wins to extend his class title lead with two rounds remaining.

Race two, with the top 50 percent of the field reversed, was filled with Masters excitement. Mason started from the front row, Miedecke managed to make up eight spots and Stephen White, taking the reigns of John Bowe’s #18 Dunlop Super Dealers/Wilson Security Ford Mustang for the weekend, scored his a third place in just his second Masters race.

Closing a pressure-driven, action-packed weekend, the Race 3 finale unfolded with drama for Rory O’Neill, retiring from pre-grid with an oil leak and faulty oil pressure gauge, a disappointing end for the #13. Richards took control from the start, while Miedecke charged.

The lead went back and forth, but Miedecke found his way through around the outside of Richards. It was a dream weekend for the Whiteline Transport Racing team – Miedecke’s fourth consecutive win, leading home new Outright (Class A) points leader Richards.

Possibly the most impressive Masters debutant to date, White had made his place comfortable in third, and Mason again proved the Shelby’s strength, pushing Eddie Abelnica as the pair began a power versus handling battle that would see them to the line, just a car length in their final drag to the flag.

Mason’s tenth enough to make it a three-peat of wins and the class round honours to extend his Pro-Sportsman (Class B) title lead over Greg Keene.  

"Sandown is my favourite track – I won my first ever race here and the track suits my style, so it’s great to have had such a good weekend,” Miedecke said. 

“We have changed the car and the Chevy is very fast, so we are in good shape. It’s far easier when you have a car that has an edge so it has been a good weekend. I’m looking forward to racing with Jim (Richards), John (Bowe) and the rest of the field at Bathurst as this is getting full-on now.

"When a car works well at Sandown, it tends to work well at Bathurst so I think we will be on the pace there, and that’s a good feeling.

"This weekend’s result is fantastic for Bob and Sharon (Middleton, team owners), for Lubrimaxx, and for our dedicated team. I could hear Bob’s smile growing over the radio as the weekend rolled on – they are all so pleased that we’re back, and it’s looking very positive for me to have a 20th anniversary of racing with this great team next season.”

Mason also praised his team’s efforts in the win.

"It all feels great but honestly, I'm only the steerer,” he said. “The Carter brothers who prepare the car won the round this weekend.

“We had a situation (Saturday) where we had a fairly broken car and we really didn't think we were going to make it out today, but the guys worked late into the night and got up early this morning to repair everything and get us back on track, so this is all thanks to Phil and Peter – they make this happen.

"The car was great, absolutely fantastic this weekend. The car is just the way I want it, it’s doing what it needs to do and as a team, we’re performing at our best so we’re definitely looking forward to Bathurst.”

The Touring Car Masters will next appear as a support category to the V8 Supercars at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 from October 10-13. Tickets are still available for the event that stops the nation.