The GP Midgets on Saturday the 7th of December hit the track at Redline Raceway where the 4th Round of the Masters Series was fought out and won by Ashley Booker from Lisa Chalcraft & Paul Perry.

With three heats for each driver Chris Fowler (# 13 australiancampsites.com.au – Suzuki GSX 1100) finally got his race car on the track once again however not before drama in the pit enclosure where with his clutch not engaging, a push start was required and one of his crew members injured himself.

Fowler started on pole with Chalcraft alongside and it was Chalcraft who led the field as they completed lap one. Booker made a move on the back straight on lap two and took the lead from Chalcraft (# 15 Oil Hydraulics Shepparton – Suzuki GSXR W 1100) as she chased hard.

By mid race Booker had a comfortable lead whilst Fowler latched onto the tail of the Chalcraft’s race car after she drifted high and pounced with two laps to go to snatch second place following Booker across the line with Chalcraft, Garry Cassidy & Louis Rodriguez finishing behind. Perry pulled out with low fuel pressure during the race.

With a big Redline Raceway program the track slickened off and started to take rubber by the time heat two hit the track. Booker had pole position with Chalcraft alongside and Cassidy & Fowler immediately behind them.

Chalcraft again showed great reflexes & awareness as she got the jump at the start and went two wide into turn one with Booker on the pole line getting the drive down the back straight to lead Chalcraft, Fowler, Cassidy (# 9 Michel Signs – Yamaha GXR 1100), Rodriguez and Perry.

Cassidy had a spin on lap three without bringing on the cautions and as the race went on Fowler started to claw back to Chalcraft and pushed a little two hard when seeing the white flag unfurl and spun in turn two. Booker beat Chalcraft, Rodriguez, Fowler & Cassidy whilst Perry (# 33 GHC Trailers – EFC Suzuki 1100) again had fuel pressure concerns and finished infield.

During the break before heat three Perry and his crew found their problem. The fuel flow was being blocked by an earwig that was in the fuel filter!

On a very slick track for heat three Rodriguez and Cassidy began on the front row and it was Cassidy who led from Booker & Chalcraft early as Booker (# 50 I Saw Concrete – R1 Yamaha) entered turn four on lap one he ran around the outside of Rodriguez and then continued on around Cassidy in the same fashion in turn one.

Chalcraft passed Shepparton based racer Rodriguez driving a Suzuki GXR 1100 powered race car on lap three for third place whilst by lap six Booker was almost half a lap a lap in front of the field. Meanwhile Chalcraft also picked off Cassidy to move into second place.

Fowler spun on the second last lap in turn two as Booker whizzed by to put him a lap down. Booker took the win from Chalcraft, Cassidy, Perry, Rodriguez & Fowler.

The end of round three of heats for all divisions resulted in a track grade which resulted in a good track after the first lap of the final for the GP Midgets.

Perry struck drama on the dummy grid when it was noticed a tire had deflated and his crew managed to get it changed in time to take his feature race starting position behind Booker, Chalcraft, Fowler, Cassidy & Rodriguez.

Booker led lap one from Chalcraft and Fowler and by mid race had a � of a lap lead over the second & third place drivers who also had a gap back to the others between them.

Fowler managed to spin once again in turn two on lap six this time bringing on the caution lights and sending himself to the rear of the pack for a restart.

Booker jumped well again catching Chalcraft napping and gaining close to 1/8th of a lap advantage as he hit the finish line for the restart lap. Fowler was running well on lap nine and got under Rodriguez to take fifth in turn four & a couple laps later Cassidy spun in turn two in front of Perry who managed to narrowly avoid Cassidy who fired up without a caution needed.

At the chequer flag it would be Booker from Chalcraft, Perry, Fowler, Cassidy & Rodriguez in finishing order.

Victorian drivers now head to the Australian Title at Goulburn in NSW 18th January 2014

GP Midgets would like to thank the following supporters:
Super Balance Automotive
Jacobson Coaches
AustralianCampsites.com.au
DMT Sports Media

Written by
Dean Thompson
DMT Sports Media
for GP Midgets Victoria

Winner Ash Booker (C) Inaction Photos

Lisa Chalcraft second on points just behind Booker (C) Inaction Photos