JAMES Golding has claimed the opening race win for the Trico Trans Am Series at Mount Panorama, surviving a single-lap sprint to the finish after an action-packed 45 minutes of racing.

Golding (CTE Mustang) controlled the race from the front, however, a late safety car setup a thrilling finish with Todd Hazelwood (TFH Racing Mustang) hot on his bumper at the chequered flag.

For Golding, the result puts him on pole position again for tomorrow’s finale.

“It was a great race for us, we did it from pole position, but it wasn’t so simple, we had to do a bit of work to hold off the guys behind, they were super-fast,” said Golding.

“Todd and Nathan (Herne) gave us a bit of a hard time at the start, but it was good racing with them and we came away with a win.

“I kept it straight, and we had a fast car to the finish.”

From pole position, Golding fended off Nathan Herne’s (BlueGold Industries Mustang) advances on the run to Hell Corner on the opening lap, with Hazelwood slotting into third from Nash Morris (Norwell Motorplex Mustang).

While the leaders settled into a rhythm, Elliot Barbour (Shure Racing Camaro) made it past Jarrod Hughes (IES Motorsport Camaro) for seventh, while Hazelwood claimed second from Herne at turn one on lap three, with Herne subsequently dropping back to fifth behind Morris and James Moffat (LMCT+ Mustang).

Diesel Thomas (TFH Racing) headed to the pits after his Mustang sounded off-song when a plug lead came adrift, while several of the leaders scattered through the Esses to avoid the slowed car of Warren Wadley (Team RSG Mustang).

Moffat closed in on Morris for third, with the pair ultimately making contact and spinning at Forrest’s Elbow on lap seven. Morris then came together with stablemate Charlie Nash (Tickford Autosport Mustang) while attempting to rejoin the race.

Both Morris and Nash retired as Moffat fell outside of the top ten.

As that mess was being cleaned up, Wadley retired to the pits with extensive rear-end damage to his car after hitting the wall on the exit of The Chase.

Barbour moved into fourth ahead of Jordan Cox (Schaeffler Mustang), as Mark Crutcher (Crutcher Developments Mustang) tangled with Domain Ramsay (C&H Trucking Camaro) and hit the wall on the run into the Elbow on lap 11.

As this happened, Robbie Farr’s (Hi-Tec Oils Camaro) debut on The Mountain ended with rearward contact with the wall at Griffin’s Bend, with the safety car subsequently called onto the track to clean up the opposing ends of the circuit.

Following an extended caution period, a one-lap sprint to the finish ensued, where Golding held on for the victory from Hazelwood by only 0.2061sec.

Third went to Herne from Barbour, Cox, Hughes, Blake Tracey (Auto Openers Mustang), Ben Grice (All American Drivelines Mustang), Adam Garwood (Garwood Motorsport Mustang), with Ben Bargwanna (Hangcha Racing Mustang) rounding out the top ten.

Hughes claimed honours in the TFH Hire TA2 Muscle Car Series Presented by Maritimo Luxury Yachts ahead of Ben Gomersall (UNIT Racing Mustang) and Davies, while Josh Thomas (TFH Racing Mustang) secured Pro-Am honours from Cameron Laws (Castle Railing Mustang) and John Holinger (Holinger Racing Camaro).

Tomorrow’s Trico Trans Am Series 45-minute-long race at Mount Panorama is set for a flag drop at 9:55am, directly ahead of the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.

For those at home, the race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo.

Further event details can be found at bathurst6hour.com.au.