The inaugural running of the Twin City Challenge for Formula 500s, supported by KRE Race Engines, saw Dale Shilleto and Ryan Skennar share round wins, but it was Shilleto who managed to come out on top in the overall point standings.

Held over the Easter Long Weekend, the Twin City Challenge, which doubled as the ninth round of the Tyrepower Micro 600 Super Series, was battled out on last Saturday night at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway for the opening round and on the Sunday night at the Toowoomba Speedbowl for the second and final round.

The opening round at Archerfield Speedway resulted in a dominant feature-race victory to current Tyrepower Micro 600 Super Series leader Skennar. After starting from position three in the field, Skennar managed to the hit from the outset, and then paced the field for the entire 20-lap journey. Despite the best efforts from Shilleto, he was unable to catch Skennar and had to settle for second. Current Queensland, NSW and South Australian Champion Nathan Pronger rounded out the podium in third. North Queensland’s Kaydon Iverson finished in fourth ahead of Brad Metcalfe, Billy Foyle, Ken Newton, Chase Norman (NSW), Phil Roberts and Bruce Marshall in 10th.

Tyrepower Micro 600 Super Series contender Charlie Brown rode out a spectacular crash after contact with two-time Australian Champion Mick Pronger. Both Pronger and Brown shared the front row of the feature race, but at the drop of the green, contact between the pair ensued, and it resulted in Brown crashing out. While Brown was left with a heavily damaged car, Pronger was soon after disqualified from the race due to the part he played in Brown’s exit.

Earlier in the night, Mick Pronger had won both of his heat races, while Skennar and Shilleto collected one each.

The following night at the Toowoomba Speedbowl, the Shilleto and Skennar battle continued; however, on this occasion, it was Shilleto who came away on top at the completion of the 20-lap feature race for the second and final round.

Shilleto, a former Queensland and Victorian Champion, dominated the feature race by leading from the drop of the green flag through to the fall of the chequered flag. He managed to down Skennar and Nathan Pronger in second and third place respectively. A consistent Metcalfe finished just off the podium in fourth, while Brooke Wanless, Roberts, Foyle, Nick Potts and Adrian Farrell rounded out the finishers.

It was a premature exit from the feature race for Kaydon Iverson. After Kristin Brown had lost a wheel in the closing stages of the feature race, an innocent Iverson, who was following behind, hit the wheel and crashed out. The crash caused extensive damage to the Tony Cochrane-owned BYB car that Iverson was guest driving.

After a massive wreck the previous night, Charlie Brown bounced back with a rebuilt car. In the feature race, he was running strongly in second until he was forced to retire with mechanical woes. Another retirement was Mick Pronger, who was black flagged due to a broken header on his engine.

In the heat races, the wins were shared between Shilleto (x 2), Skennar and Brown.

Shilleto won the Twin City Challenge point standings ahead of Skennar and Metcalfe, while Skennar’s performance over the two nights resulted in him consolidating his Tyrepower Micro 600 Super Series point standings lead.

The 10th round of the Tyrepower Micro 600 Super Series will be held at Archerfield Speedway on Saturday night, April 26. This round doubles as the ‘$1,000 to Win’ event that’s proudly supported by KRE Race Engines.

Current Tyrepower Micro 600 Super Series Point Standings (after nine completed rounds)
1: Ryan Skennar - 589 points
2: Kristin Brown - 501
3: Cody Maroske - 500
4: Charlie Brown - 474
5: Nathan Pronger - 231

The Brisbane Formula 500 Club would like thank Tyrepower for all of their 2013-14 season support. To find out more about Tyrepower, visit their website: www.tyrepower.com.au The club is also supported by Lucky Promotions, Beenleigh Mufflers & Brakes, Myla Graphics, BK Trading, TC Racing & Mechanical Services, City Point Hotel, Lucas Oils, Jettco Developments, and Aussie Trackwear.

-ENDS-

Brisbane Formula 500 Club Media Enquiries: Daniel Powell from Redline Media
Mobile: 0432 126 210
Email: daniel@redlinemedia.com.au
Website: www.redlinemedia.com.au

Dale Shilleto & Ryan Skennar

Ryan Skennar