2023 Round 36 Cup Results
The first caution of the race waved on lap 14, prompting all drivers to head into the pits for their initial car adjustments. The restart had Dyson retaining the lead, with Pearson and Stent in pursuit.
Stent executed a successful pass on Dyson to claim the race lead on lap 34, while Douglas and Phelps engaged in intense battles for the 6th and 7th positions. The next caution materialized on lap 39, leading most of the field to dive into pit road once again, with the exception of Norman Clark, who chose to stay out and lead for a while. Dyson quickly reclaimed the lead after the restart.
The race witnessed numerous side-by-side battles across the field on the restart, eventually settling into a single-file formation. The green flag flew from this point, lasting the remaining 105 laps. Pearson, Douglas, and Phelps remained in contention with the front two until around 30 laps into the run, after which Dyson and Stent managed to pull away from the field.
On lap 96, the first set of cars began making pit stops, and Pearson became the first among the Championship 4 drivers to pit on lap 98. Stent followed on the next lap, Phelps on lap 101, Dyson on lap 102, and Douglas on lap 103.
Joshua Carroll-Walden chose a longer stint, allowing Stent to regain the lead on lap 112. Meanwhile, Pearson, Douglas, and Phelps continued their battle for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions, while Stent and Dyson engaged in a separate battle further up the road.
Stent managed to maintain his position and clinch the race victory, while Dyson secured the Championship with his 2nd place finish, outperforming the other members of the Championship 4.
Congratulations to Andrew Dyson for achieving back-to-back Cup championships, becoming only the second driver to accomplish this remarkable feat.
With the conclusion of the 2023 ANZCAR Cup season, we bid farewell to an eventful and challenging year. A special thank you goes out to all the drivers who contributed to this season. Keep an eye out for updates on the changes planned for the upcoming year.
Race Statistics:
Total Laps: 150
5: Ruben Phelps
6: Steven Williams
7: Matthew Raymond