Qualifying around the concrete canyon proved to deliver a range of surprising results, mixing the 40 car strong field up and down the order.

In the early stages of the 20 minute all in qualifying session, it would be Synergy Sim Racing’s Jarrad Filsell on top of the time charts early, setting the pace ahead of Trans Tasman Racing’s Brady Meyers. Pursuit Sim Racing’s Andrew Gilliam would later join the party in the 10th minute of qualifying, finding improvements from his first run to jolt nip the order into second place, only a mere .008 away from the current pole time set by Jarrad Filsell.

Qualifying intensified with roughly 5 minutes to go, as drivers started to turn up the wick and deliver punches at the top of the order. Gilliam again would go on to improve, momentarily eclipsing the time of Filsell to sit on provisional pole, before being jumped by Championship leader James Scott only seconds later. It was looking like Scott would hold onto pole position, as drivers had maximised the track conditions at play, until Brady Meyers out of nowhere stole the show with a blistering lap in the dying stages of the session. Meyers time would go unmatched, securing pole position for round 7 of the championship. James Scott hung on to claim second in qualifying, followed by Gilliam, Filsell & Madison Down rounding out the top 5.

Race 1

As race 1 got underway, Brady Meyers would convert from pole position to lead the field through the opening sequence of corners on the run down to turn 3 with James Scott & Andrew Gilliam following behind. Jordan Ross was the only real mover in the lead pack on lap 1, making an early move on Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault out of turn 2, promoting himself into the top 6 in the early stages as the lead train looked to settle into a comfortable rhythm.

As Brady Meyers lead the way, it didn’t take long for drama to brew in the mid field, with lap 2 already sparking controversy on the exit of turn 7. The #47 of Kurt Stenberg found himself off line on the exit the corner, making contact with the concrete barrier lining the edge of the circuit. Evolution Racing Team’s Bailey Fridd was left with no escape, making contact with the ailing Trans Tasman Racing car of Stenberg on the run into turn 8. The incident sparked a flurry of chaos, with multiple cars being caught out in the incident.

Back at the front, Meyers continued to lead the field. The top 5 managed to form a breakaway pack ahead of Jordan Ross in 6th, who was being put under immense pressure by Ethan Grigg-Gault. Grigg-Gault made his move into turn 3 on lap 4, shuffling the #143 of Ross back to 7th place. Championship contender Jake Burton was quick to pounce also, as he attacked on the run into turn 4. Slight contact between the two saw the #8 Trans Tasman Racing car out of control through turn 4, ultimately gathering it up with little time loss. For Ross on the other hand, this sequence of racing saw the #143 fall outside the top 10 in this stage of the race.

James Scott would be the first driver to file into pit lane for his compulsory pit stop in race 1 on the 13th lap with teammate Jarrad Filsell in tow. Trans Tasman Racing’s Madison Down followed suit, with Josh Anderson, Jake Burton, Jobe Stewart & Jordan Ross all choosing to make their first stops.

Brady Meyers went the alternative route, opting to stay out leading the way ahead of Andrew Gilliam. This stop would prove critical for Meyers on lap 14, who found himself rejoining the circuit right behind James Scott on the run down to the infamous turn 3. Scott would push his luck however into turn 3, moving under brakes in reaction to Meyers attempted pass. The battle continued into turn 4, Meyers coming off second best after contact with the outside wall dropping the #22 of Meyers back down into 4th position. James Scott would later be penalised for his actions, resulting in a 5 second penalty to be served post race.

The winner out of all this though would be Pursuit Racings Andrew Gilliam, who made ground on the leaders in his pit stop. Gilliam promoted himself to second though the scuffle between Scott & Meyers, before applying the blow torch to the back of James Scott in the closing laps. Gilliam ultimately wasn’t under pressure to make the move due to Scott’s unserved 5 second penalty, but produced a pass down at turn 7 to take command of the race on lap 24.

Not looking back, Gilliam would go on to produce his first race win in the Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup, leading home Jarrad Filsell & Madison Down who rounded out the race 1 podium.

Race 2

Race 2 saw Andrew Gilliam convert from his pole position grid box, executing the perfect launch to lead the field into turn 1 & 2. As the field filed through, Marcelo Rivera & Brady Meyers made contact on the exit of turn 2, finding the wall & setting off a chain reaction. A number of front running cars found themselves involved in the turmoil, putting an end to their respective nights and bringing out the first caution of the round.

This ruling would see those who opted to transit the lane forced to make a second stop over the 28 lap event. Madison Down was a winner from this, vaulting to the lead under caution after making the correct call. This would also see Ethan Grigg-Gault, Josh Anderson, Brady Meyers & Adam Briggs all promoted into the top 5 ahead of the race restart.

Madison Down lead the field back to green flag racing on lap 4, commanding the race on the run through turns 1 & 2. Drivers such as James Scott, Jake Burton & Jarrad Filsell all were advancing their way through the field until turn 7, which saw yet another multi car pileup as a result of contact between Filsell and the turn 7 concrete barrier. Contact with the barrier forced Filsell back across the circuit into the #19 of Dylan O’Shea, with Jake Burton also being a contributor to the incident. This would ultimately put an end to Jake Burton’s night, as well as denting his 2023 championship campaign.

Madison Down meanwhile was out front controlling the pack, withstanding the pressure that Ethan Grigg-Gault was applying the the rear bar of the #77 TTR commodore. Lap 13 would see the safety car called for the second time in race 2, many of the lead cars choosing to transit the line to complete their pit stops for the night. With a cleansed field, Down would again lead the field to green, controlling the pace of the cars behind.

Jarrad Filsell’s night went from bad to worse, again being caught in controversy over a move on Matthew Bowler on lap 15. Filsell was penalised for his conduct with a drive through penalty. Ending what started as a promising night.

Racing at the front of the field quietly died down in the closing laps, Madison Down taking full control in the back half of the race over Ethan Grigg-Gault ultimately crossing the line on lap 28 to claim the checkered flag for the 2nd time in his 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup campaign. Ethan Grigg-Gault continues his consistent streak, claiming yet another podium in second, followed by Josh Anderson, securing his first podium of the 2023 season. Jack Boyd would bring home 4th, followed by Briggs, Gilliam, Veld, Scott, Meyers & Thomas Freeman rounding out the top 10 for race 2 of the evening.