RACE REPORT – Still in the lead after Round 4 of the NSW Championship.
Sunday the 29th of June saw the AGI Sport – Excel Team compete in the 4th round of the NSW Excel Racing Championships at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park.
AGI Sport entered a two car team and headed into the 4th round of the 2014 series locking out 1st and 2nd positions in the championship standing.
NSW EXCEL RACING CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 4 – RACE REPORT
The NSW Excel series made their third visit in 2014 to Goulburn’s Wakefield Park with a nineteen-car grid. In near freezing temperatures, the Excel drivers braved it out in mostly wet conditions while the lap times were predictably far from lap record pace. AGI Sport – Excel driver Nathan Gotch was quickest in Free Practice with a margin of 1.6 seconds over the second placed Matt Stockwell.
Practice results:
o 1st – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch
o 1.25.93
o 2nd – Marts Tavern – Matt Stockwell
o 1.27.56
o 3rd – Auto Mate – Brett McFarland
o 1.28.16
o 5th – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto
o 1.28.55
Qualifying would feature wet and extremely cold conditions. The lap times fell as the session progressed and it was Nathan Gotch who got the job done in the last minute of the qualifying session.
Qualifying results:
o 1st – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch
o 1.25.78
o 2nd – Marts Tavern – Matt Stockwell
o 1.26.52
o 3rd – Auto Mate – Brett McFarland
o 1.26.61
o 7th – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto
o 1.27.98
Race 1 would feature a fast-starting Nick Filipetto, who climbed from 7th on the grid to finish a brilliant 2nd place. Nathan Gotch led from pole and was never challenged over the 8-lap opening race to take a commanding victory. Bathurst’s Brett McFarland brought his #27 entry home in 3rd place to round out the podium positions.
Race 1 results:
o 1st – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch
o 2nd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto – Fastest lap of the race – 1.18.05
o 3rd – Auto Mate – Brett McFarland
The reverse grid Race 2 saw Glenn Smith starting up front and take a commanding lead in drying conditions. Nathan Gotch made his way into P2 by lap 3 but over 5 seconds adrift of Smith. Gotch set about chasing down Smith and was right on his bumper by the final lap. Both went side by side into the final corner and towards the chequered flag with Smith winning by just 0.05 of a second! Nick Filipetto rounded out the podium positions with 3rd place.
Race 2 results:
o 1st – Glenn Smith
o 2nd – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch – Fastest lap of the race (and event) – 1.16.99
o 3rd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto
Race 3 on Sunday afternoon proved another ‘cracking’ final race of the day. Glen Smith had a spin at ‘the fishhook’ on lap 1 while leading which let Gotch and Filipetto past. In worsening conditions it was the Auto Mate entry of Brett McFarland who came through from third to eventually pass Filipetto and Gotch for the lead with two laps to go and take a deserving victory.
Race 3 results:
o 1st – Auto Mate – Brett McFarland – Fastest lap of the race – 1.27.35
o 2nd – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch
o 3rd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto
AGI Sport – Excel Team driver Nathan Gotch won the round and continues to lead the 2014 series. The battle for NSW Excel Championship continues at Sydney Motorsport Park’s South Circuit on the 3rd of August.
