The Bend Michelin Sprint Challenge Round 2
Published on the 6th of June 2024 by McElrea Racing
Clay Osborne #15
1st, 9th, 9th - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro Class'
Brett Boulton #84
5th, 10th, 1st - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro-Am Class'
Caleb Sumich #14
6th, 8th, 4th - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro Class’
Ayrton Hodson #28
7th, 10th, 5th - Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge 'Pro Class'
Summary
Every now and then, you have a weekend that delivered so much less than it should have. Sprint Challenge at The Bend was exactly that for the MR crew and drivers.
We tested at the South Australian circuit a few weeks prior to the race weekend and left with the three pro drivers all fast and within a couple of tenths of a second of each other. Practice went well and all three MR pro drivers qualified in the top 10, with Clay in P2, while Brett was a comfortable 3rd in Pro-Am after missing the earlier test day.
Race 1 went well with Clay nailing his start and taking his first Michelin Sprint Challenge race win and Caleb and Ayrton both moving forward and Brett slipping to 5th after a post race penalty.
Race 2 was chaos, and carries the dubious distinction of being the first time ever that all MR drivers picked up a time penalty which affected their official finishing position! If there was a way to be penalised we managed to find it!!
Race 3 was back to normal – well almost – Clay blasted from grid 19 to 3rd on the road to make a mistake and turn around the car in P2, which damaged a wheel so he had to pit for a replacement. Ayrton and Caleb both did outstanding work to fire through the field from grid 22 to P5 and grid 16 to P4 respectively. Brett also impressed by leaping from grid 24 to win the Pro-Am race.
Despite having quick cars and the usual awesome MR preparation, after the wild weekend we had, there were no trophies for our drivers which makes us all even hungrier to make amends and get all 4 drivers on the Pro & Pro-Am podiums at Townsville in early July. See you there!