The Caltex Delo® Racing Isuzu D-MAX SuperUte at the hands of Tom Alexander #22 has taken its maiden win in 2019 ECB SuperUte Championship race 4 and again in race 6, in the process winning 2019 PIRTEK Perth SuperNight (Round 2).

Round two of the ECB SuperUte Series saw the SuperUte grid battle wheel-to-wheel for the first time in the category’s short-history at the historic 2.4Km long Barbagallo Raceway, Western Australia. Tom Alexander wasted no time on the first day, wisely utilising the two 20-minute practice sessions, to learn the unfamiliar circuit. Time well-spent, with Tom posting a blisteringly quick qualifying lap of 1:12.132, just a fraction of a second (0.03 seconds) behind Ben Walsh’s pole lap of 1:12.0978.

Starting Race 1 on the front row, Tom quickly pipped Ben with a great start, leading into turn one where Tom remained in P1 for the entire race until taking the chequered flag, securing his maiden victory at the wheel of the Isuzu D-MAX SuperUte in the 2019 ECB SuperUte Series.

As per category rules, race 2 was reverse grid format (for drivers completing race 1 only) which saw Tom start in sixth. Unfortunately in the opening laps, the D-MAX SuperUte suffered severe power loss with a split turbo-intercooler hose forcing Tom to nurse the D-MAX SuperUte home across the twenty laps of race 2, to collect as many points as possible. Ironically as a precaution, the turbo-intercooler hose was replaced with a brand new one prior to the start of race 2.

After quickly replacing the split intercooler hose, the team refocused their attention to race 3, where Tom would start again off the front row; with the starting position determined by the accumulation of round-points up until that point. Off the start line, Tom made quick work to take the lead into the first corner. Tom was challenged by a pacey Elliot Barbour who was in the battle for the round win, but the D-MAX SuperUte remained strong and fast, securing the race victory and round win, as well as enough points to top the charts as the new championship points leaders.

Operations Manager – Ross Stone Racing, Emily Stone said “The Perth event was challenging; not only proving to be a huge undertaking logistically—with travelling four and a half thousand Kms, but it was also Tom’s first time racing at Barbagallo Raceway.” 

“That said, we are overjoyed with the results and the messages of support over the weekend and of course coming away with minimal damage,” concluded Emily Stone.

Tom Alexander and the Caltex Delo® Racing Isuzu D-MAX SuperUte will return to the track to defend his championship lead, at the 2019 Winton SuperSprint on 24 – 26 May 2019.
 
PIRTEK Perth SuperNight Results
Practice 1 – 3rd
Practice 2 – 1st
Qualifying – 2nd
Race 1 – 1st
Race 2 – 8th
Race 3 – 1st

Championship Points after Round 2 PIRTEK Perth SuperNight