MAIDEN A MAIN VICTORY FOR JORDAN RAE

ROUND 5 PODIUM: Ash Sinclair (2nd), Jordan Rae (1st), Leigh Van Ginnekin (3rd) and Dion Bellman (4th)
Photo courtesy of TJ Chassis

The trip to Portland’s Southern 500 Speedway has proved to be a rewarding one for rising Victorian Formula 500 star Jordan Rae. The 18 year old Apprentice Carpenter steered the V9 to his first F500 ‘A’ Main victory, over 20 laps in Round 5 of the TJ Chassis Stampede Series.
Despite still dealing with niggling engine issues, which he best described as ‘feels like it runs out of fuel half way down the straights,’ Rae had a weekend to remember.
Rolling out in third position for his opening heat, Rae did enough to move to second place and bank some solid early points from his front start. The team focussed its efforts on trying to solve the engine gremlin between heats, leaving little time for any setup changes.
The rear start was from position eight, and once again Rae made small steps in the right direction, greeting the finish line in fifth place. That put him in sixth position on points, before the starting order got shuffled when pole man Josh Buckingham drew a pill to invert the top six.
Now starting off Pole Position, Rae grabbed the opportunity with both hands, leading every lap on his way to a breakthrough victory, finishing ahead of the experienced duo of Ash Sinclair and Leigh Van Ginnekin and fourth placed speedster Dion Bellman.
Rae’s first A Main victory came as a relief. “It feels really good to get the pressure of the first win out of the way. I always felt I could win one if things fell my way. I’m just really proud and also thankful to my crew and sponsors, couldn’t do it without them’ recalled the 2017/18 Victorian Rookie of the Year.
Avalon Speedway is next on the calendar, for Round 6 of the TJ Chassis Stampede Series.
Thanks to the following Sponsors:
Hindle Karting
The Car Wash
Hosey Earthworks
TJ Chassis
HD Tilt Trays
Heywood Lime
JD Price Automotive
Pristine Builders
Auto Klene
Lethal Race Wings
Westvic Sheds & Garages
BRATT
Snap On North Geelong
AHR Media