Allen dominates Race 2, Perkins wins Townsville round

Kai Allen has dominated Race 2 of the Dunlop Series in Townsville, while third for Jack Perkins was enough for him to break a five year round win drought.

Kai Allen nailed the start from the outside of the front row and was never headed, controlling the pace from the front and pulling six seconds on the field in a crushing display.

Whilst Perkins engaged in a fierce battle with pole-sitter Zach Bates for second, third was enough for him to claim round honours in his first start of the season.

"A lot harder today, I've got to be honest. Coming from fifth, I just got the front tyres and the brakes just too hot too early,” Perkins said.

"You would have thought some experience would help there, but no, the two young blokes out in front did a good job. I was waiting for them to make a mistake, but they didn't.

“So, we can't be too disappointed with that. First and third, pole position, some great results for the team. Blanchard Racing, brilliant job. All my sponsors, Shaw and Partners, thank you very much.

“You get more people critiquing you than supporting you in this game. It's a professional sport, you've just got to harden up. But to come out here and just get the results, that’s what it means."

After getting a slow start, Bates had to fend off fast-starting WAU teammate Campbell Logan at turn two, but managed to hold second as the field exited turn two.

There would be more first lap drama at turn three, and once again Brad Vaughan would find himself dumped down the order as a result.

In the mid-pack there was a massive concertina, with Vaughan finding himself spat out towards the tyre barrier on the outside, with Cameron Crick, Cody Gillis, Cody Burcher, and Rylan Gray all going up the escape road in avoidance.

Erebus driver Jobe Stewart would receive a drive through penalty, and sustained heavy front end damage to his ZB Commodore in the incident.

All drivers involved would get back underway, and the race remained green throughout the 40-minute duration.

Allen and Bates would never be more than a second apart across the first half of the race, however superior tyre life saw the Eggleston driver march away to claim the race win and second for the round.

Bates would have his hands full fending off Perkins in the final half of the race as he struggled for rear tyre life, whilst teammate Logan ranged into the battle in the closing laps in a breakthrough performance.

Cameron McLeod would round out the top five, ahead of Zane Morse, Cooper Murray, Jordyn Sinni, Max Vidau, and Jarrod Hughes.

Bates' dogged defence of second place paid dividends, as he now jumps back up to third in the standings, 165 points behind Allen.

Aaron Cameron would have a tough race starting from 16th, getting clobbered by Matt Chahda on the opening lap at turn six, with Chahda later retiring due to the damage.

Cameron would then have an awkward coming together with Kelly racing teammate Mason Kelly at turn seven, and could only manage 12th at the finish.

Cameron’s 12th place was the first time he has finished outside the top ten in his Dunlop Series career, and has seen his deficit to Kai Allen blow out to 114 points at the halfway point of the 2024 season.

Ninth place for Vidau was enough to secure the South Australian third for the round, however he now drops to fourth in the points standings, 204 points off the lead.

Cody Burcher’s perfect record in Super3 was broken after his involvement in the lap one drama, with Thomas Maxwell claiming the race win in 15th outright, and round honours on a countback.

Round 4 of the Dunlop Series will take place from September 13-15 at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.