Vaughan on pole, Allen 13th for Race 2 in Perth
Dunlop Series
19 May
Brad Vaughan heads title challenger Zach Bates on front row
Eggleston Motorsport buried in pack, Cooper Murray P7, Kai Allen P13
Cody Burcher claims Super3 pole in 17th outright
Tickford’s Brad Vaughan has bounced back from a disastrous Saturday to claim the Boost Mobile Pole Award for Race 2 of the Dunlop Series in Perth.
Vaughan set a time of 55.0959s to pip Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Zach Bates by just 0.0360s, though the Canberran has a big opportunity to claw back ground on points leader Kai Allen this afternoon.
Allen had a disjointed and frustrating session, first being deployed into traffic for his green tyre run, then making a mistake on his one clear lap to leave him deep in the pack in 13th.
Bates enters this afternoon’s race 144 points behind Allen, and will be eyeing a maiden Dunlop Series win to close the margin as much as possible.
Pole position also represents a turnaround in fortunes for Vaughan, who was set to start third yesterday until a starter motor failure left him stranded on the grid for the formation lap.
“Today is a new day, but it doesn’t make up for yesterday,” Vaughan said post-session.
“All I can do is just go out there and do my best, so this is the first step done.”
On row two were the top two cars from the first segment as qualifying, as once again track evolution didn’t favour the top runners as much as anticipated.
Max Vidau put in a sterling lap to put his Anderson Motorsport Mustang third on a 55.2180s, pipping Cameron McLeod by just 0.0002s as both recorded their personal best qualifying efforts.
Row three will be an all-Kelly Racing affair, as Mason Kelly rewarded his team’s late night rebuild with a brilliant fifth, alongside Aaron Cameron who will also be looking to close in on Allen.
Saturday pole winner Cooper Murray could only manage seventh, alongside Eggleston Motorsport teammate Jordyn Sinni who continued his solid weekend.
The top ten was rounded out by Brad Jones Racing’s Elliott Cleary, who also set a time in the first segment, and Tickford’s Lochie Dalton.
Cody Burcher got one back on MW Motorsport teammate Thomas Maxwell in Super3, claiming pole on a 55.5819s to sit in 17th outright.
Race 2 of the Dunlop Series in Perth is shaping to potentially be an important chapter of the 2024 season, and will begin at 2:15pm AWST/4:15pm AEST.
