Ken Sartori and Ryan Farrell waged war at TPCR
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West Aussies Wage War At Tyrepower Pcr
Author : Tom Worsley
West Australian ‘Flyan’ Ryan Farrell has raced his way onto the Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway feature winner’s list, taking out his maiden TPCR feature win at Round Five of the Track Championship. Farrell took the win over fellow West Australian Ken Sartori in a thrilling battle lasting over half the race. Third position went to Marsden Park local Kelly Linigen who received a little help from Sprintcar legend Steve Brazier who was turning the spanners for the night.
The main event was action packed, even before the green light with Mark Richards suffering mechanical woes, which handed 5th place finisher in the B main, Adrian Maher, his chance to start the A main from position twenty-four.
At the initial start there was a four car pile up in turns one and two between Bruce White, Brett Loadsman, David Doherty and Ian Saville who all restarted at the rear of the field.
At the re-start Ian Madsen blasted to an early lead from Sartori, Farrell and Linigen. It was only another four laps after the restart before disaster struck the current race leader. After building up a healthy lead, Madsen came speeding through turn one to an assembly of stopped cars including Maher, Carl Trofa, Clayton Hart and Martin Lawes. With no where to run, Madsen made heavy contact with a stationery Carl Trofa, causing extensive damage to the #35 machine and the unluck Trofa who only spun to a stop to avoid the incident.
At the restart, Sartori blasted into the lead from Farrell and Linigen. Two laps later Linigen moved past Farrell with a great pass in turns 3 & 4 to take second position.
With eight laps down in the thirty lap race Chris Stipanovich spun in turn 2 once again bringing on the yellows.
Victorian Matthew Reed made the most of the restart powering around Farrell to take over third position. He was to lose the position back to Farrell two laps later as Farrell took to the highline in a desperate attempt to move forward.
Next in Farrell’s sights was Linigen who was running the race of her life, Farrell moved past her on the outside and set after fellow West Aussie Sartori.
Farrell moved alongside Sartori a few laps later and the two West Aussies began a titanic battle continuously chopping and changing position, Farrell running the high line looking down on Sartori on the low line. They ran together wheel to wheel for five consecutive laps, each giving no quarter but racing as clean as you would wish to see. Eventually Farrell proved to be too strong, making a final move and making it stick.
Linigen crossed the line in third, whilst Victorian Matthew ‘Speed’ Reed was fourth with Craig Brady following in fifth position.
“It was really hard work! It was probably the hardest feature I have had to win for quiet some time. The highline was definitely the fastest way round,” commented an ecstatic Farrell. “I lost count how many times I nearly came unstuck but I have been head hunting to win here for two or three years now and we gave it a red hot go and it just came off.”
Taking the close defeat on the chin, Sartori gave credit where it was due to his Western Companion.
“You’re kind of like a sitting duck,” stated Sartori. “He was watching what I was doing and he could find the faster way around. Ryan’s a good racer and I think we put a good show on for the fans anyway.”
James Thompson took quick time to start the night, with an 11.810 lap. Veteran Bruce White was next on the time charts with Grant Tunks taking out the third time.
The night was however marred by a major accident in the heats. David Craft didn’t even make the first corner of the first heat, taking part in a violent flip heading into turn one. The ambulance attended the scene, taking Craft to Westmead hospital shaken up, due to the physical strain of the accident. Daniel Needham also took a tumble in the C main and was sent to hospital after complaining of a sore collarbone.
Both the Litrecars and Street Stocks complimented the Sprintcars with astounding racing. Australian Litrecar Champion Sean Barnett held off Steve Troughton and Scott Withers in the A Main.
Brett Mitchell proved too good for Robert Swain, taking out the Street Stock main. Shane Carlson came home in third.
Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway sends their thoughts to David Craft and Daniel Needham, and wish them a speedy recovery.
Kelly Linigen (3rd), Ryan Farrell (1st) and Ken Sartori (2nd).
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