2023 Season 3 Round 7 Thunder Results
Thunder Series Review
Wednesday night and the Thunder Series saw a depleted field turn up at World Wide Technology Raceway for Round 7 of Series 3. The Kiwi drivers from were understandably missing, as across the ditch had decided to move their clocks for daylight saving a week ahead of the mainland.
Ryan Jones continued his good qualifying form, picking up his third pole position of the series. Starting on his outside would be Lachlan Urquijo, whilst row 2 would feature Jason Martin and Garry Wellman.
After hanging tough on the outside for the first couple of laps, Urquijo was able to take the lead away from Jones on lap 3, whilst Martin, Wellman and Shaun Doecke rounded out the top 5.
Just a few laps later, Martin moved himself to the front, just as his Mitch Motorsports teammate Josh Michelmore was making progress, up to fourth after starting in ninth.
Whilst there was some hard fought battles taking place, positions remained largely unchanged as the field settled into a long green flag run.
The first to play the strategy card was Karl Withey, who pitted on lap 38 for fuel and tyres, with many thinking this may have been a play at a 2 stop strategy. However, all the other drivers stayed out and elected to go for a single stop strategy, with drivers stopping between laps 50 and 64.
Once the pit stops cycles had played out, Martin would hold a half second lead over Uqruijo, with Jones 3 seconds behind. Jones would push hard, and by lap 76 had caught the leading pair. In the space of just a couple of laps, Jones would work his way through and into the lead and wouldn’t be headed, claiming his third win of the Series.
Martin was looking comfortable in second, until on lap 86, he went too deep into turn 1, which allowed Urquijo a gap up the inside and would go on to claim second, with Martin third.
Race Summary:
100 Laps
0 Cautions for 0 Laps
6 Leaders
9 Lead Changes
1st - #11 Ryan Jones
2nd - #42 Lachlan Urquijo
3rd - #21 Jason Martin
4th - #31 Josh Michelmore
5th - #26 Shaun Doecke
Stewards Summary:
Cautions:
Nil
Restarts:
Nil
Protests:
Nil
Other:
Nil
Series 3 standings:
Josh Michelmore continues to lead the Series 3 championship, now 12 points clear of Ryan Jones in second position, with Jason Martin a single point further behind. Next week sees the Thunder Series conclude its Road Course Title, with 35 laps at the Charlotte Roval, which has Jaie Schultz leading by 16 points over Andrew Dyson.
2023 overall standings:
Continuing to mimic each other finishing positions, the Mitch Motorsport pair of Jason Martin and Josh Michelmore continue to hold battle for the overall title, 13 points in favour of Martin. Matthew Raymond moves into a comfortable third position, now 45 points clear of Ruben Phelps.
Wednesday night and the Thunder Series saw a depleted field turn up at World Wide Technology Raceway for Round 7 of Series 3. The Kiwi drivers from were understandably missing, as across the ditch had decided to move their clocks for daylight saving a week ahead of the mainland.
Ryan Jones continued his good qualifying form, picking up his third pole position of the series. Starting on his outside would be Lachlan Urquijo, whilst row 2 would feature Jason Martin and Garry Wellman.
After hanging tough on the outside for the first couple of laps, Urquijo was able to take the lead away from Jones on lap 3, whilst Martin, Wellman and Shaun Doecke rounded out the top 5.
Just a few laps later, Martin moved himself to the front, just as his Mitch Motorsports teammate Josh Michelmore was making progress, up to fourth after starting in ninth.
Whilst there was some hard fought battles taking place, positions remained largely unchanged as the field settled into a long green flag run.
The first to play the strategy card was Karl Withey, who pitted on lap 38 for fuel and tyres, with many thinking this may have been a play at a 2 stop strategy. However, all the other drivers stayed out and elected to go for a single stop strategy, with drivers stopping between laps 50 and 64.
Once the pit stops cycles had played out, Martin would hold a half second lead over Uqruijo, with Jones 3 seconds behind. Jones would push hard, and by lap 76 had caught the leading pair. In the space of just a couple of laps, Jones would work his way through and into the lead and wouldn’t be headed, claiming his third win of the Series.
Martin was looking comfortable in second, until on lap 86, he went too deep into turn 1, which allowed Urquijo a gap up the inside and would go on to claim second, with Martin third.
Race Summary:
100 Laps
0 Cautions for 0 Laps
6 Leaders
9 Lead Changes
1st - #11 Ryan Jones
2nd - #42 Lachlan Urquijo
3rd - #21 Jason Martin
4th - #31 Josh Michelmore
5th - #26 Shaun Doecke
Stewards Summary:
Cautions:
Nil
Restarts:
Nil
Protests:
Nil
Other:
Nil
Series 3 standings:
Josh Michelmore continues to lead the Series 3 championship, now 12 points clear of Ryan Jones in second position, with Jason Martin a single point further behind. Next week sees the Thunder Series conclude its Road Course Title, with 35 laps at the Charlotte Roval, which has Jaie Schultz leading by 16 points over Andrew Dyson.
2023 overall standings:
Continuing to mimic each other finishing positions, the Mitch Motorsport pair of Jason Martin and Josh Michelmore continue to hold battle for the overall title, 13 points in favour of Martin. Matthew Raymond moves into a comfortable third position, now 45 points clear of Ruben Phelps.
