15 minutes of qualifying would prove to be a mentally draining affair, the limited qualifying time posing a challenge for all 42 entrants to set their competitive times.

It would be Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault setting the benchmark in the early stages of the session, closely followed by Watkins Glen race winner & championship leader Jake Burton. Madison down showed some speed during qualifying, his second run jolting the Trans Tasman Racing driver into provisional pole position with little over 5 minutes remaining.

The final qualifying run proved to be incredibly close, with the likes of Jordan Ross laying down a competitive time inside the top 5 for the time being. Dylan Rudd jumped onto the front row for no more than a split second alongside Madison Down before James Scott shot to the top of the time charts with a blistering lap that saw the driver of the #088 claim pole position for the 60 lap race around the Red Bull Ring Circuit. Scott would share the front row with championship challenger Madison Down, followed by Dylan Rudd, Gilliam & Ethan Grigg-Gault rounding out the top 5. Jordan Ross, Filsell, Burton, Stewart & Shawn McNamara would finalise the top ten in qualifying.

Starting form pole position, James Scott would lead the field towards turn 1 with Madison Down behind. Gilliam showing early aggression, made easy work of Madison Down at turn 6, promoting himself into second position behind Scott on the opening lap of the race. It didn’t take long for Gilliam to show his cards, making an authoritative move down the inside of Scott at turn 3 on lap 2. Ethan Grigg-Gault took full advantage of this manoeuvre on Scott, slicing underneath the #088 machine on the exit of turn 2, moving up into the second position behind new leader Andrew Gilliam.

Gilliam continued to break the air for the cars behind in the early stages, Grigg-Gault, Scott, Down & Jarrad Filsell all sitting behind using the tow to their advantage as the field reached the 10 lap mark of the 60 lap event.

Down the field, incidents started to evolve as drivers got Deep into their first stints. Damien Johnstone & Sebastian Varndell would be the first to have issues, both drivers coming together on the approach to the turn 4 braking zone. Varndell managed to keep his Ford Mustang on the road, continuing on with little positions lost. Damien Johnstone on the other hand, enjoyed a off track excursion that would see the Synergy Sim Racing driver drop back down the order.

Bradley Rattew was another driver who was caught out in an incident on lap 20. A spontaneous move from Luke Rosella at turn 3, saw the 9ine 5ive SimSports driver under attack on the run to turn 4 from Josh Anderson. Braking late, the #36 Trans Tasman Racing Commodore looked like getting the move done cleanly on Rattew, slightly wide of the apex contact was made between Anderson & Rattew, sending both off the circuit.

As the drivers started to reach the middle portion of the race, Pursuit Sim Racing’s Andrew Gilliam continued to lead the field over Evolution Racing Team’s Ethan Grigg-Gault. James Scott, Down & Filsell made up the top 5, continuing to take full advantage of the draft, saving fuel ahead of their opening pitstops.

Lap 24 would see the leading pack peel off to take the first of their compulsory pit stops, Gilliam, Scott, Filsell, Ross & Jobe Stewart all opting to take to the lane.

Madison down stayed out behind Ethan Grigg-Gault with Jake Burton also choosing to continue on.

Grigg-Gault would make his way to the lane a lap later on lap 25, along with O’Shea, Liyanage & McNamara who’d also make a trip to the pit lane for the first time. Down would be the final lead driver to transit pit lane on lap 29, rejoining behind stablemate Brady Meyers.

The field would cleanse on lap 33. Andrew Gilliam again would retain the lead with Ethan Grigg-Gault behind. Difficulty’s on pit entry for James Scott would see Filsell move into 3rd position, James falling to 5th behind Pursuit Sim Racing’s Jobe Stewart.

Jarrad Filsell & James Scott shocked the field laps later when they decided to split from the pack and make their final scheduled pit stops on lap 41. This call was questioned by many, unsure wether traffic would come into play for the SSR duo.

Grigg-Gault would be the next contender to blink, opting to try cover Filsell & Scott. Andrew Gilliam & Jobe Stewart would make their move together one lap later on lap 44, also trying to maintain their respective track position.

After completing his final compulsory pit stop, Grigg-Gault put in a contender for pass of the season on James Scott at turn 3, diving deep under brakes creating a 3 wide situation on approach to the hairpin. Excellent traction on the exit of turn 3 would see the Evolution Racing Team driver move into effective second position behind Jarrad Filsell on lap 46.

10 laps to go would mark a turning point in the race. It was clear at the front of the field the aggression level had lifted. Filsell now lead the train, with Grigg-Gault close behind. Team tactics came into play on lap 51, Filsell managing to hold Ethan Grigg-Gault wide at the turn 3 hairpin allowing James Scott to make his move down at turn 4. Grigg-Gault would find himself shuffled off line again, demoting the #7 Commodore back into 4th position. It didn’t take long though for Ethan Grigg-Gault to strike back though, putting on a passing clinic at turn 3 again, charging back into a podium place with only a handful of laps remaining.

Series leader Jake Burton was already suffering from a difficult night after making contact with the pit exit wall earlier in the race when things again went sour for the #8 TTR Commodore. On lap 58, Dylan Rudd would make a uncharacteristic mistake on the approach to turn 4, locking the rear tyres and sending himself into a self spin on the apex. In a rush to rejoin the field, Rudd found reverse at the wrong time, moving into the path of Rehan Liyanage & series leader Jake Burton, collecting the pair in the process. Falling to 18th, Burton is left wondering what could of been, now relinquishing his championship lead.

Filsell would lead Scott home in a dominant display for the SSR pair. After a difficult season to date, Filsell has finally broken through for victory, as he now sets his sights on making up as much ground as possible in the championship. Madison down would collect the final place on the podium after a late race penalty for Ethan Grigg-Gault, ensuring he keeps himself well and truely in the title fight. Meyers would collect a strong points haul in 4th, with Gilliam rounding out the top 5 after 60 laps of intense racing.

James Scott has now bounced back to the championship lead after Burton’s Misfortune, taking control as we look ahead to Belle Isle in little over 2 weeks time. Madison Down has been promoted into 2nd, only a mere 22 points away from the championship lead.

As the series moves closer to Belle Isle, the focus now moves to the championship battle at hand. Can James Scott hold on and prevail at Belle Isle heading into endurance season?