Yeppoon ace mixes it with big boys

YEPPOON Super Sedan ace Matt Williams gave the big boys a tough time in his quest to win the Hotline 40 Auto Parts Australian Super Sedan title.

Racing at Speedway City, Adelaide, at the weekend, Williams was placed well on the grid for the feature event, but then had the misfortune to suffer a punctured tyre during the final 10 laps. It resulted in his slipping back through the field.

To gain a leading position for the main race is a great effort as Williams was one of 54 of the best Super Sedan drivers competing for this national title.

All drivers raced in four heats over two nights, with the points gained from those four heats determining where drivers would start in the feature event.

The record of the Central Queenslander was magnificent.

In his first heat Williams was drawn in pole position and maintained that place through to taking the chequered flag.

The second heat let Williams pick up a couple of positions, to finish fifth after starting the race in seventh place.

Third heat was the best of the night as he began at the back of the field, recorded the fastest lap in the race and gained the victory with stars like Wayne Randall chasing him home.

In Williams’s final heat he again finished further up the field than where he started, coming third after a fourth-place start.

With such results in the heats, his ninth-place finish in the feature was a disappointment, but understandable since he was fighting his car for the final 10 laps.

Mick Doblo was also among the 54 drivers racing, finishing in the top seven of each heat, but unable to claim a spot in the feature race.

Winner of the Australian title was Queenslander Jamie McHugh with South Australian Dave Gartner the runner-up.