Tim Slade has taken out the GCG Open class in the Xtreme GT-R, banking a 1:26.192 to hold off Nathan Morcom in the GAS Evo for the gold. It looked to be a done thing heading into the shootout with Morcom’s 1:27.642 putting him more than a second back from the Supercars driver.
Morcom’s day went from bad to worse as mechanical gremlins crept in, leading to the team having to replace the engine on Friday night, before coming back to Sydney Motorsport Park on Day Two. Out of the gate they broke a driveshaft, but the 2022 GCG Open class champions rallied hard to make the shootout, running a 1:27.366 to lock in second-place.
Sladey then went and stopped the clocks in the shootout with a stunning 1:25.926, avenging the disappointment of 2022 when the screaming RB was knocked out due to mechanical gremlins.
WTAC veteran Benny Tran in the BYP Integra rounded out the podium, running a 1:28.581, knocking Rob Nguyen’s S15 down to fourth by less than two-tenths of a second. Unfortunately an engine problem ruled Rob’s Silvia out of the Superlap shootout, so John Boston in the Motive/Sparesbox 200SX took his place.
John Boston finally cracked car owner Andrew Hawkins’ dream of a 1:29 lap, running a 1:29.911 in the shootout to a rapturous reception from the Motive/Sparesbox crew.