TODD Hazelwood has made a dream start to his Trico Trans Am Series title defence, capitalising on a mechanical gremlin for early race leader James Moffat, as the capacity field turned on the action at Hi-Tec Oils Race Tasmania from Symmons Plains Raceway.

Hazelwood himself had an action-packed race, with multiple issues seeing his result ultimately saved by a late safety car.

“Oh man, I had to fight for that, it wasn’t easy!” said Hazelwood.

“We had a slow right-front puncture from contact with Moff at the start.

“I was struggling to pull it up under brakes, and I lost the clutch with three laps to go before that safety car, so it was a perfectly timed safety car from my point of view.

“We got the win, a good start to the weekend, and we’ll box on tomorrow.

“Three races back-to-back with these cars, it’s going to be tough work… it was unfortunate for Moff, he was out in front doing it easy, but you could see the smoke coming out the back of his car.”

The initial attempt at a race start was waved off with the field not gridded up correctly, however, when the race did get underway, Moffat (LMCT+ Mustang) jumped past polesitter Hazelwood (TFH Racing Mustang) on the run to the first corner.

Hazelwood didn’t give up without a fight and immediately applied pressure to the 2023 series victor.

Charlie Nash’s (Tickford Autosport Mustang) first Trans Am start got off to an inauspicious start when he was pushed wide exiting the Hairpin, the same section of track Joshua Webster (Auto Fix Mustang) slowed, while Hazelwood was passed by Nathan Herne (BlueGold Industries Mustang) for second position there on lap five.

Hazelwood moved back by Herne at the end of the back straight on lap eight, while three laps later, Adam Garwood spun his Mustang at the Hairpin from 11th position.

The race’s complexion changed on lap 14 when Moffat slowed from the lead with an axle issue, while Mark Crutcher (Crutcher Developments Mustang) headed to the pits.

On lap 16, James Golding (CTE Mustang) made it past debutant Lachlan Evennett (CAMM Mustang) at the Hairpin for fourth.

Two circuits later, Hazelwood survived a lurid slide under braking for the Hairpin, while the safety car was called with under two minutes remaining in the 25-minute time certain race to retrieve the stopped Hi-Tec Oils Mustang of Robbie Farr.

Hazelwood cruised to victory from Herne, Tom Davies in the first of the Garry Rogers Motorsport prepared Mustangs, then Golding, Evennett, and Jordan Cox, whose Schaeffler Mustang smoked heavily during the race from a rubbing brake duct.

Rounding out the top ten were Nash Morris (Norwell Motorplex Mustang), Ben Grice (All American Drivelines Mustang) and Jackson Rice (Dream Racing Australia Mustang).

The top finishing Pro-Am runner was Mark Bailey aboard the Jax Tyres Mustang.

Tomorrow’s schedule for the Trico Trans Am Series at Buckby Motors Symmons Plains Raceway calls for a trio of 25-minute-long races, scheduled for 11:05am, 1:10pm and 4:20pm.

For those trackside, free grid walks will be held at 12:50pm and 4:00pm.

Meanwhile, for those watching from home, a live stream via the Trico Trans Am Series, Race Tasmania and V8 Sleuth Facebook pages, and the Trans Am and V8 Sleuth YouTube Channels will be available from 11:00am to 12:30pm.

Following that, all of the action will be found from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on SBS onDEMAND and Kayo.

Tickets and further information on Hi-Tec Oils Race Tasmania is available at racetasmania.com.au.