[SSEDAN] Ricciardello wins at Mallala



RICCIARDELLO WINS CLEM SMITH CUP
6 June, 2009

Tony Ricciardello won the Clem Smith Cup for Sports Sedans in Round Four of the Shannons Nationals at Mallala Motor Sport Park, where South Australian drivers starred.

South Aussies won three of the six classes in a big weekend of racing at the Adelaide circuit, with late rain challenging drivers each day.

Ricciardello took his Alfa Romeo to victory in the marquee race of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, the Clem Smith Cup.

In a dominant Race Two performance, Ricciardello claimed his second Clem Smith Cup, after winning the inaugural Cup in 2007.

“We had some problems with the car early on, but after we got that sorted it was perfect, it didn’t miss a beat,” Ricciardello said.

“Winning the Clem Smith Cup again is an honour, big thanks go to Clem for his support of the race and Sports Sedans.”

Ricciardello and reigning champion Darren Hossack (Audi) continued their fierce rivalry, which spilt over as the pair clashed in Race One and Race Three.

Des Wall (Corvette) avoided the trouble to win the two races and the round; Ricciardello claimed a second and a ninth in the other two races, Hossack an 11th and a fifth.

Adelaide drivers finished first and second in Round Two of the Shannons V8 Touring Car Series.

Adam Wallis took his VX Commodore to three wins from three races and the round victory, ahead of 2008 title winner Chris Smerdon (AU Falcon) and Terry Wyhoon (AU Falcon).

Wallis extends his points lead, while Smerdon moves into second place.

“It’s been a good weekend,” Wallis said.

“With the rain around each afternoon, we did a lot of tyre changes in the pits before making a final decision for the races.

“The wets were always on standby and we ended up needing them for Race Three.

“Leaving the event with three from three and a bigger championship lead is the perfect result.”

While Matt Kingsley took the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge round win to extend his buffer at the top of the table, Adelaide’s Mark Krashos was the weekend’s hard luck story.

Krashos won the opening two, dry races in convincing fashion, but a decision to use slick tyres in the wet Race Three was costly, dropping to finish 11th.

Rain-master Kingsley cashed in to take the race and round win, from Jeff Bobik and Paul Bolinowsky.

This weekend’s race meeting was Kingsley’s first in South Australia since he was injured in a massive V8 Ute crash at the 2008 Clipsal 500.

“It’s hard to explain how I’m feeling and the emotions involved, coming back to Adelaide and having such a successful weekend” Kingsley said.

“My family has been behind me 100%, their support has helped me get back into racing.

“The round win is a great result and sets us up well for the rest of the season.”

Even with a switch from Ford to Holden for reigning champ Steve Kwiatkowski, the battle between Kwiatkowski and Shawn Jamieson raged all weekend.

Jamieson won all three races in his Commodore, extending his points lead, with Kwiatkowski second and Sam Milton (Falcon) third.

Much like Krashos’ Porsche weekend, Yiani Harpas was in the box seat to win the opening round of the Australian Superkart Championship.

Harpas won Races Two and Three, before crashing out of the final.

Sam Zavaglia took the round win ahead of reigning champ Darren Hossack and Harpas, V8 Supercar driver Shane Price was sixth on debut.

Michael O’Donnell and Asher Johnston slugged it out for the Dover Madison Formula Vee race wins, with O’Donnell scoring two wins before Johnston took out the finale.






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