Posted by AGI Sport on May 29, 2014 in Press Release

RACE REPORT – AGI SPORT 1-2-3 in Round 2 of NSW Excel Championship

The 17th & 18th of May saw the AGI Sport – Excel Team compete in the 2nd round of the NSW Excel Racing Championships at Wakefield Park.

AGI Sport again entered a three car team and headed into the second round of the 2014 series managing to lock out the first three positions in the championship battle.

ROUND 2 – RACE REPORT

AGI Sport Team driver Glen Smith continued his recent strong form and led the way in the Saturday morning practice session. Nathan Gotch closely followed Glenn in second, with just 0.04 seconds splitting the pair. Both set times under lap record pace. With Nick Filipetto in third, it was an AGI Sport 1-2-3.

Practice results:

1st – AGI Sport – Glenn Smith #44
2nd – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch #66
3rd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto #77

Qualifying saw another 1-2-3 lock out for the AGI Sport – Excel Team. Smith just edged out Gotch, with Filipetto in third.

Qualifying results:

1st – AGI Sport – Glenn Smith #44
2nd – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch #66
3rd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto #77

Gotch got off to a great start in Race 1 just after lunch on Saturday taking a commanding lead into turn 1. It wasn’t long before race officials deemed the start a little too good however, adding a 5 second penalty to the finishing time of Gotch. Behind it was a battle between Smith and Filipetto with Glen just edging out Nick who was suffering from reliability issues towards the end of the race. Nathan would end up taking the chequered flag 4.7 seconds ahead of the pack. Just 0.3 sec shy of the race win after the penalty was added.

Race 1 results:

1st – AGI Sport – Glenn Smith #44
2nd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto #66
3rd – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch #77

Race 2 featured a reverse grid and a brave move by Gotch up the inside to take the lead by turn 2. Filipetto got ‘tapped’ at turn 2 with four cars attempting to the use the same piece of bitumen. Smith led the rest of the pack behind Gotch.

Race 2 results:

1st – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch #66
2nd– AGI Sport – Glenn Smith #44 (new lap record – 1.15.98)
3rd – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto #77

Race 3 on Sunday morning saw Filipetto make a great start to lead lap 1 around the 2.2km Goulburn circuit. Gotch tucked in behind for a close battle over the first three laps. Nick’s car eventually stopped on circuit with an on-going electrical issue. Gotch took the win with Brett McFarland and Daniel Smith rounding out the podium in the first of the Development Series cars. Glenn Smith suffered from a poor start and got involved in a multi-car off-track excursion. Glen would come back through the pack from last to 6th by the end of the seven lap event.

Race 3 results:

1st – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch
2nd– Brett McFarland
3rd – Daniel Smith
6th – AGI Sport – Glenn Smith
DNF – AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto

Race 4 on Sunday afternoon saw AGI Sport Team driver Nathan Gotch lead from start to finish. It was a race that would see all three AGI Sport drivers push each other hard to the end of the 9 lap Feature Race. A 1-2-3 finish for AGI Sport capped off another successful weekend for the team.

Race 4 results:

1st – AGI Sport – Nathan Gotch #66 (new lap record – 1.15.78)
2nd – AGI Sport – Glenn Smith #44
3rd– AGI Sport – Nick Filipetto #77

AGI Sport Team driver Nathan Gotch leads the series heading into the next round. The battle for NSW Excel Championship continues at Sydney Motorsport Park’s South Circuit on the 8th of June, 2014.