ALEX DAVISON has claimed his first Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship round win since 2016 thanks to a stunning start in the final race of Round 3 in Townsville. 

Davison had chased Race 2 winner Max Vidau hard earlier on Sunday but launched perfectly in the finale’ to grab an early lead which, coupled with Vidau being shuffled down the order on the opening lap, helped deliver him his first win since June 2016.

Vidau finished second overall and Jackson Walls third in a critical weekend for his championship and Michelin Junior title hopes.

Meanwhile, Sam Shahin claimed an impressive win in SP Tools Pro-Am after race one and two winner Adrian Flack failed to finish the final race with damage.

He was joined on the podium by Matt Belford, in second, and the ever-consistent Rodney Jane in third.

Both winners were emotional while celebrating on the Townsville podium with today’s victories especially meaningful to both Shahin and Davison. 

Davison’s win was the 17th round win of his stunning career while his race 3 victory was his 48th in Carrera Cup Australia.

He’s the third winner from the three rounds held this year and fifth different winner from the last five rounds.

Shahin, meanwhile, broke Adrian Flack’s two-round winning streak to inject more life into the Pro-Am fight. 

Sunday’s two races were hard-fought affairs with Vidau leading home Davison and Hedge in the Enduro Cup opener earlier in the morning.

Hedge gained three spots early to make up for his race one penalty, while Walls finished fourth and just off the podium to add to his points haul.

Though he couldn’t take the overall round win, Vidau’s race two victory gives the Tyrepower TekworkX driver an early advantage in the Carrera Cup Enduro Cup campaign points tally. 

Adrian Flack won the SP Tools Pro-Am class over Shahin – who had a damaged front splitter – and Dean Cook to take an early lead in the Enduro Cup series.

Race three was a typical sprint with Davison’s fast start launching him to a lead he’d never lose.

Vidau found himself on the wrong side of the road on the opening lap shuffle, allowing Walls, Hedge and Fabian Coulthard to sneak through.

Fifth position ensured he finished behind Davison in the round, however saw him claw points back on his closest title rivals following a tough round in Darwin last time out.

Coulthard’s fourth was his best finish since returning to Carrera Cup while Chris Pither’s sixth was a similar milestone.

David Wall, a charging Thomas Maxwell, Luke King and Nick McBride completed the top-10.

After winning the first two races, Adrian Flack couldn’t go further than the opening lap in race three as damage from the first-lap battles saw him forced to pit lane and out of the race.

That handed the advantage to Shahin, who claimed the race win and the round overall.

Jackson Walls leaves Townsville with an extended, 20-point lead in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship as the series heads to The Bend Motorsport Park for round four.

Callum Hedge sits second while Max Vidau’s pair of wins see him climb back to third. Dale Wood drops to fourth in the standings while Alex Davison has climbed to sixth.

Meanwhile, Sam Shahin takes a narrow lead in SP Tools Pro-Am heading into Round 4, with Flack and Jane in close company. 

The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship resumes at The Bend’s OTR SuperSprint this August 18-20.

ALEX DAVISON

“I can’t even tell you how this even feels, I’m a little bit emotional to be honest. I’m just so thankful to Scott and Rebecca Taylor for the opportunity to drive their car. I’m back with my mate Ash Seward from ASM, we raced together in 2017 so it’s awesome to be back winning races with him. 

“I love racing. I’m on the wrong side of 40 but I still love it and I still feel I’m driving well but it becomes more difficult to keep life balanced and make sure you’re earning a living and to keep chasing the driving opportunities I still have a passion for. I just feel really lucky and fortunate that I’m still getting opportunities like this, I’m driving with my brother at DJR at the Enduros which this helps prepare me for as well. 

“I haven’t raced full time for quite a few years now and I often think that I’m not going to get the opportunity to do it again. 

“There’s been a lot going on in my private life too the last few years, so all combined, it means a lot.” 

SAM SHAHIN

“There was a lot going on, as there always is at Townsville. Lots of white smoke and I’m not sure whether to go left or right and sometimes you make good decisions, and sometimes you get caught out. 

“Today that went my way on a couple of accidents in front of me and I just kept my head down and focussed on doing the basics right. I didn’t get the year off to a great start, and I really needed this. The weekend had been a bit up and down but I was really focussed on doing a good job today. 

“It’s a special anniversary for me, we’re doing this for lost ones today, so I’m very proud to be carrying the first place trophy home.”