Dale delights in Darwin

Dale delights

in Darwin

Dale Wood enjoyed a very successful weekend at the Paynter Dixon Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship, held in Darwin from 17 –19 June.

Dale was well-placed in the top 10 alongside Ryan Suhle entering the weekend, while Callum Hedge was aiming to rebound after two brutal opening events. Dale started the weekend well with a fourth and eighth in the opening two practice sessions, subsequently improving on this in qualifying to score his first pole position for the Earl Bamber team.

In a tight battle with championship leader Harri Jones and Dylan O’Keeffe, Wood scored his best result of the season to finish second in the first race. He turned the tables on Sunday morning in Race 2, taking an early lead and keeping it to score his first win for the season.

Despite the heat in Race 3, Wood made adding another victory appear easy, taking out the round after leading from start to finish.

‘The increased aerodynamics that come with the new-for-2022 Type 992 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars heightened the importance of a fast start at Hidden Valley,’ says Wood. He admits he’s been critical of the new Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia cars, which are faster but more difficult to follow in close succession, due to the aero wash from the greater downforce.

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Nevertheless, the Brad Jones Racing co-driver enjoyed a return to form in Darwin as he clinched his first race wins in three years, as well as overall round honours.

‘That’s mega. That’s one of the best weekends I have had in a long time, to get two race wins, the round victory, and pole position, it really could have only been that one little bit better,’ Wood reflects.

‘But I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. I’ve been a bit critical of these new cars, in a sense that there’s a lot more aerodynamics and they’re hard to follow. Here, you know the race is arguably going to be decided in Turn 1 unless you go and make a mistake later on.

‘So, we had to get through Turn 1. Harri gave it a good crack, so hats off to him for that – but we got in the lead … and from there on, we put our head down. ‘Earl Bamber Motorsport has given me an unbelievable car this weekend, and I haven’t had this much fun with a team in a very long time. I absolutely loved it.’ We wish Dale many more heart-pounding successes in future competitions. •