2022 Round Cup Results
Foster crystal balls his way to victory at Richmond!
For the second time in 2022 the 247 ANZCAR Cup Series made its way to Richmond for the latest installment as an enthralling regular season nears its conclusion.
With drop rounds now in effect for the majority of the field a clearer picture of the final standings is emerging, the season's two dominant forces in Hobson and Dyson are of course the benchmark, but the fight behind them to simply make the Chase is just as intense.
Daniel Hetterscheid would run the fastest qualifying lap and take his place on pole, with Dyson joining him on the front row. Hobson and Michelmore would occupy row two as the field took the green flag, with Hetterscheid sprinting out to an early lead. One man who would not be in contention was Neil Pearson, who parked the 9 after a single lap due to unresolved hardware issues that also caused his retirement from the Brickyard 400 the day prior.
Hobson would slot into second ahead of Dyson and Michelmore, with Foster, Scurlock and Russell following in behind. The leaders would run largely in that order as tyre wear was a huge factor, and long run pace would be key.
After twenty laps Hobson would get to Hetterscheid's bumper, and after a few attempts would take the lead on lap twenty-six. Lap fifty would see the retirement of Jaiden Russell with connection issues, the same would account for Michael Scurlock some nine laps later.
With fuel able to run almost to the end of the race, tyre strategy would be the defining factor unless the yellow flag intervened. Foster, struggling on tyres, would be the first of the top ten to pit from fifth on lap fifty-six, Lachlan Urquijo would follow on lap sixty-three. Both would spend the next laps making up the lost time, able to lap some two seconds faster on their fresh tyres.
The Mitch Motorsports duo of Michelmore and Martin headed for the lane on lap seventy-six, with the remainder of the field pitting over the next five laps.
Foster would take the lead as the rest of the field pitted, having used his time on fresher tyres to to be able to put a lap on all but Urquijo once everyone had cycled through. Surely now with roles reversed, the field would be able to hunt him down? All this was thrown out the window on lap eighty-five, when the caution would come out when Tompkins dropped it in turn two.
Foster and Urquijo could pit for fresh tyres however the rest of the field were left with the option of staying out and getting their lap back, or pitting and staying one lap behind. All elected to stay out and while this put all the lead runners back on the lead lap, it left Foster, Urquijo and Raymond out front on fresh tyres.
The former top three, Hobson, Dyson and Hetterscheid would fight their way through to take second, third and fourth but were unable to catch Foster, who took the chequer five seconds to the good. Urquijo would get fifth, while Michelmore, Williams, Martin, Phelps and Clark would round out the top ten.
With the regular season winding down, time is running out for those “on the bubble” to make their way into the Chase.
The next round at Watkins Glen will be key for many, join us then.
Stewards Report
Incidents
Lap 85 - Noddy Tompkins
For the second time in 2022 the 247 ANZCAR Cup Series made its way to Richmond for the latest installment as an enthralling regular season nears its conclusion.
With drop rounds now in effect for the majority of the field a clearer picture of the final standings is emerging, the season's two dominant forces in Hobson and Dyson are of course the benchmark, but the fight behind them to simply make the Chase is just as intense.
Daniel Hetterscheid would run the fastest qualifying lap and take his place on pole, with Dyson joining him on the front row. Hobson and Michelmore would occupy row two as the field took the green flag, with Hetterscheid sprinting out to an early lead. One man who would not be in contention was Neil Pearson, who parked the 9 after a single lap due to unresolved hardware issues that also caused his retirement from the Brickyard 400 the day prior.
Hobson would slot into second ahead of Dyson and Michelmore, with Foster, Scurlock and Russell following in behind. The leaders would run largely in that order as tyre wear was a huge factor, and long run pace would be key.
After twenty laps Hobson would get to Hetterscheid's bumper, and after a few attempts would take the lead on lap twenty-six. Lap fifty would see the retirement of Jaiden Russell with connection issues, the same would account for Michael Scurlock some nine laps later.
With fuel able to run almost to the end of the race, tyre strategy would be the defining factor unless the yellow flag intervened. Foster, struggling on tyres, would be the first of the top ten to pit from fifth on lap fifty-six, Lachlan Urquijo would follow on lap sixty-three. Both would spend the next laps making up the lost time, able to lap some two seconds faster on their fresh tyres.
The Mitch Motorsports duo of Michelmore and Martin headed for the lane on lap seventy-six, with the remainder of the field pitting over the next five laps.
Foster would take the lead as the rest of the field pitted, having used his time on fresher tyres to to be able to put a lap on all but Urquijo once everyone had cycled through. Surely now with roles reversed, the field would be able to hunt him down? All this was thrown out the window on lap eighty-five, when the caution would come out when Tompkins dropped it in turn two.
Foster and Urquijo could pit for fresh tyres however the rest of the field were left with the option of staying out and getting their lap back, or pitting and staying one lap behind. All elected to stay out and while this put all the lead runners back on the lead lap, it left Foster, Urquijo and Raymond out front on fresh tyres.
The former top three, Hobson, Dyson and Hetterscheid would fight their way through to take second, third and fourth but were unable to catch Foster, who took the chequer five seconds to the good. Urquijo would get fifth, while Michelmore, Williams, Martin, Phelps and Clark would round out the top ten.
With the regular season winding down, time is running out for those “on the bubble” to make their way into the Chase.
The next round at Watkins Glen will be key for many, join us then.
Stewards Report
Incidents
Lap 85 - Noddy Tompkins
