December 08, 2011
Published on tags: Master Series
The return of the Masters Series to the Mount Panorama Circuit saw the drivers testing both their skills and their nerve over the twists and undulations of Bathurst's famous mountain. The New South Wales, Australia track is arguably one of the toughest most gruelling tracks on any racing calendar - a circuit many drivers try to tame, but fail.


Forty plus drivers turned up to the event but it was one man at the top of the mountain. Simon Cattell set a staggering time in a chaotic qualifying session in which trying to find the space on track proved to be the most difficult part of the process.


In the opening feature race a masterclass from championship leader Cattell saw him take his first win of the season, completing a hattrick in the process. Despite a few hair-raising moment at turn 1 and the track claiming several high-profile victims, the English driver built an unassailable lead, lapping over a second a lap faster than anyone else, even though Tom Eley tried to provide a hurdle to his rival. This result brought Cattell within touching distance of claiming the title as Bart De Vos finished a disappointing 12th and Jack Keithley was once again absent.


The sprint race was action-packed and saw most of the leading drivers struggling amongst the slower traffic. With the grid reversed, the fast men of race one had to carve their way through the field on the narrow track - creating some scary moments in the process, such as the pile up on the exit of The Chase after three cars went side by side down Conrod Straight. The battle for the race win was a close fought one between Jason Muscat and Sam Millar, with Muscat claiming victory by just half a second. Further back both Cattell and De Vos failed to get into the points at the end of the race, meaning that mathematically the championship fight will still be decided in the final rounds at Donington. A very much notable was produced by Dave Carr-Smith, who went from the back of the grid - 39th - to eight