The long straights keep the competition close, and playing the long game with track position and fuel saving is vital to breaking your rivals ability to hang with you in the final sprint to the line.

Jarrad Filsell threw all of these facts out the window as he claimed pole position and drove away from the field in his SSR Boost Mobile Commodore. Not even the TTR machine of Madison Down was able to hang on in the draft, as Filsell took a commanding lead, making no mistakes, and cruised to a victory just shy of 15 seconds. This drive cannot be undersold, on this circuit, with this level of competition, this will be one Jarrad looks back on as one of his all-time mighty performances. It wasn’t flashy, door banging or edge of the seat to watch, but this was a powerful statement from the runaway championship leader.

TTR’s Madison Down lined up on the front row, but his lack of preparation soon caught up with him as in the race, he slipped back from Filsell, effectively being forced into leading the draft train, where those behind him were able to utilise Madison for their advantage. Once again, Ethan Warren continues to bank solid results, lining up third and coming home in fourth after a late race battle with Brodie Kosteki and Ethan Grigg Gault. It was a battle for second, but Ethan’s maturity to bank a whole lot of points moved him up to second in the championship. This is turning into a real shot at the title for TTR, as he continues to run right at the pointy end.

A spectacular fight for fifth place between Madison Down and Brady Meyers ended as TTR team boss was spun at the second chicane, a passing attempt from Madison backfiring as he ran in deep, almost forcing Brady off the road, the two coming together on the exit of the chicane. It would have been an interesting conversation afterwards!

Evolution Racing Teams Ethan Grigg Gault found his form and scored his first podium of 2022. Qualifying fourth, Ethan always looked fast and was able to utilise his speed to run the optimum strategy, giving him a chance to fight for second at the end. EGG will be stoked to get a podium under his belt, as will all the people at ERT. It wasn’t without drama though as a software blunder in the first pit stop over fuelled his car, his strategy to come out behind Filsell ruined as his car didn’t drop when it was supposed to, even still his resilience to reset and refocus after their plan went wayward is something ERT and EGG will be proud of.

The biggest mover in the top 10 was Brodie Kosteki. Qualifying 10th, Kosteki set off after a podium from the outset, moving his way past Ross, Rudd and Maloney in the opening stages, his SSR Boost Mobile Commodore a missile on the straights. Brodie ran the race with patients and used the whole race to edge closer to a podium, and in the final stages he was able to pounce and use his straight line speed to his advantage. Coming home in second, another team 1-2 was looking unlikely after qualifying, but Kosteki pulled off an incredible come back to come home in second.

The usual suspects of Burton, Maloney and Ross finished inside the top 10. But it was a break out performance for 9ine 5ive Sim Sports Dylan Rudd. After and embarrassing start line crash at the previous round, Rudd and the whole team at 95SS will be ecstatic with their first top 10 result of 2022. Rudd didn’t fluke it or get lucky with a safety car, he fought inside the top 10 all race, he held his own in a battle with Burton, Maloney and Ross all the way to the finish line, securing 10th place.

Pursuit Sim Racing’s Andrew Gilliam and Vendaval Sim Racing Driver Griffin Gardiner will be ruing an early race battle, dropping them off the battle ahead, the draft train so powerful the duo were unable to make up time and challenge for a top 10 finish. Gilliam would end up 11th, in the same spot as he qualified, whilst Griffin posted a result outside the top 10 all season, coming home battled and bruised in 16th, the Vendaval pilot won’t be happy his string of top results has ended.

In amongst this battle, four SSR cars of Freer, Rosella, Jones and Hobson battled their way through the final laps, Freer getting the best of his team mates in 12th, continuing to collect points. Freer sits ninth in the standings after round 4, his ability to get his SSR Mustang across the line in strong positions helping to solidify his championship aspirations.

Josh Anderson has endured a torrid couple of rounds. Netting a qualifying position of P20 and coming home only 17th, the TTR Cooldrive Racing driver will be feverishly making adjustment to his new sim rig in order to unlock the race winning pace he displayed in the early rounds. 17th is not where Anderson expects to be, and we expect he will bounce back at round 5, you can bet on it!

Wayne Bourke likewise had a terrible night. Unable to post a lap in Qualifying, Bourke started off the last row. Bourke is a race winning, experienced and capable performer, so it was a shock to everyone to see the SSR Commodore line up last on the grid. But Bourke would set off on a charge, overstepping the mark in the first stint and earning a drive through penalty. It doesn’t seem like it, but for Bourke to climb back to 19th, ahead of the likes of Ian Ford and Richie Stanaway, after qualifying last and earning a drive through penalty is some sort of drive, also considering there was no safety car, We say look out for Bourke in the coming rounds, as if he can nail a good lap in qualifying, we should see him provide excitement right up the front.

Blake Worbys had a quiet night, coming home in 24th. But he continues to collect points and maintains his position inside the vital top 20, for a small team like WK&P, that is an achievement in itself.

Now we have a mid-season break before we head to the hills of Belgium for round 5 of the Logitech G Pro Invitational Supercar Series at Spa. Tune in on August 31st at 7:30pm for all the action. In the meantime, watch our socials and website for all the latest news and endure pairings!