By Jan Stevenson
Klark Quinn has recorded perhaps the most impressive victory of his career on the streets of Adelaide by taking the inaugural Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy race tonight at the Clipsal 500 on Friday and following it up by taking the checkered flag in race two.
Quinn, driving a VIP Petfoods sponsored Mosler MT900 GT3, led the race one from start to finish but faced relentless pressure from former Vodka O Australian GT Champion Mark Eddy for most of the race – especially during a thrilling final five minutes.
With Dean Grant’s Mosler in extensive repairs after his high speed crash at Bathurst in the All Amour Bathurst 12HR earlier in the year, he has switched to a Porsche for the start of the season and the Vodka O GT cars put on a stunning show as the sun set over Adelaide, with glowing brake disks and flaming exhausts a sight to behold – but it was the battle for the lead that entertained the most.
After keeping close company in the opening stages of the race, the pair resumed their close contest after the entire field had completed their compulsory 60-second pit stop in the one-hour race.
With only headlights and ambient light from corporate facilities, street lights and superscreens illuminating the way, Quinn and Eddy came across the Mosler of Ash Samadi with less than ten minutes remaining. With no radio, Samadi was unaware the leaders were trying to place him a lap down and valiantly defended his position.
This allowed Eddy to attack the Mosler and the pair ran side-by-side with less then five minutes to go in a battle that thrilled the huge crowd on hand to watch the return of night racing to Adelaide’s streets.
Quinn eventually held on, winning by less than a second to take the very first Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy.
“I knew he would bring it home,” Said father Tony Quinn, who was watching from the sidelines after his own VIP Petfoods Aston Martin was forced out of the race on the opening lap after contact with a wall.
“He did a fantastic job and it was one of his best drives. Ash (Samadi) had no radio contact so he didn’t know it was the leaders coming up behind – but it made it exciting, didn’t it!”
On Sunday, Quinn again held back all comers, leading the second race from start to finish in a similarly enthralling round in the twelve lap sprint.
“It was an absolute honour to receive the trophy from a motorsport legend like Murray Walker today,” Klark Quinn said.
“It has been a great weekend. Obviously we had a fantastic race on Friday night and today I was lucky to get a good start and get in front. We’re all pretty evenly matched so it was a close fight all weekend and it was a lot of fun.”
Quinn said he would have to work on the major sponsor (Family owned VIP Petfoods) to see if a full-season championship tilt was on the cards.
“I guess I’ll have to meet with the rest of the board members and see if I can get a budget,” he joked.
“I know it sounds strange but I love my pet food – but I love the racing too so we’ll have to wait and see.”
Ash Samadi also had a great weekend and finished 5th in both races.
Klark Quinn has recorded perhaps the most impressive victory of his career on the streets of Adelaide by taking the inaugural Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy race tonight at the Clipsal 500 on Friday and following it up by taking the checkered flag in race two.
Quinn, driving a VIP Petfoods sponsored Mosler MT900 GT3, led the race one from start to finish but faced relentless pressure from former Vodka O Australian GT Champion Mark Eddy for most of the race – especially during a thrilling final five minutes.
With Dean Grant’s Mosler in extensive repairs after his high speed crash at Bathurst in the All Amour Bathurst 12HR earlier in the year, he has switched to a Porsche for the start of the season and the Vodka O GT cars put on a stunning show as the sun set over Adelaide, with glowing brake disks and flaming exhausts a sight to behold – but it was the battle for the lead that entertained the most.
After keeping close company in the opening stages of the race, the pair resumed their close contest after the entire field had completed their compulsory 60-second pit stop in the one-hour race.
With only headlights and ambient light from corporate facilities, street lights and superscreens illuminating the way, Quinn and Eddy came across the Mosler of Ash Samadi with less than ten minutes remaining. With no radio, Samadi was unaware the leaders were trying to place him a lap down and valiantly defended his position.
This allowed Eddy to attack the Mosler and the pair ran side-by-side with less then five minutes to go in a battle that thrilled the huge crowd on hand to watch the return of night racing to Adelaide’s streets.
Quinn eventually held on, winning by less than a second to take the very first Murray Walker GT Tourist Trophy.
“I knew he would bring it home,” Said father Tony Quinn, who was watching from the sidelines after his own VIP Petfoods Aston Martin was forced out of the race on the opening lap after contact with a wall.
“He did a fantastic job and it was one of his best drives. Ash (Samadi) had no radio contact so he didn’t know it was the leaders coming up behind – but it made it exciting, didn’t it!”
On Sunday, Quinn again held back all comers, leading the second race from start to finish in a similarly enthralling round in the twelve lap sprint.
“It was an absolute honour to receive the trophy from a motorsport legend like Murray Walker today,” Klark Quinn said.
“It has been a great weekend. Obviously we had a fantastic race on Friday night and today I was lucky to get a good start and get in front. We’re all pretty evenly matched so it was a close fight all weekend and it was a lot of fun.”
Quinn said he would have to work on the major sponsor (Family owned VIP Petfoods) to see if a full-season championship tilt was on the cards.
“I guess I’ll have to meet with the rest of the board members and see if I can get a budget,” he joked.
“I know it sounds strange but I love my pet food – but I love the racing too so we’ll have to wait and see.”
Ash Samadi also had a great weekend and finished 5th in both races.
