Paul Morris has survived a last-minute drama to steer the Eastern Creek International Karting BMW 335i to a second victory in the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour race at Mount Panorama today.
Morris, sharing the car with owner Gary Holt and John Bowe, crossed the line at 6.30 pm after 202 laps, 1254.4 kms, to complete Australia’s longest motor race.
But in unpredictable Bathurst tradition, the competitors were denied a proper sprint finish and instead saw the yellow Lamborghini Gallardo safety car take them to within the last few hundred metres of the chequered flag.
The safety car was called out one final time just 11 minutes from the chequered flag, while a stopped Holden Commodore of Rod Wilson was moved to safety.
The field was released to race again only as it cruised toward the final corner.
Morris’s margin was 3.3 seconds over second-placed David Wall and the Easts Holiday Parks Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 co-driven with his father Des Wall and Trevor Symonds. But it had been reduced from a secure 30 seconds by the final safety car incident.
Glenn Seton brought home Bob Pearson’s Pro-Duct Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10 in third. The entry was co-driven by Neil Crompton and Mark King.
TOP FIVE (6.30 pm)
1 Car 20# Paul Morris, BMW 335i, 202 laps
2 38# David Wall Symonds, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, 202 laps
3 35# Glenn Seton, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, 201 laps
4 85# Nathan Pretty, Holden Commodore R8 Sportwagon, 201 laps
5 7# Anthony Robson, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10, 197 laps
