Steer Wins the Round for WEST

Aaron Steer has won the exciting opening round of the Le Mans Sports Series at Sydney's Oran Park.

Mark Laucke (Laucke Flour WEST) looked like the dominant force early in the round, setting the pole position time in qualifying. Steer had telegraphed his intentions early though - fastest in the morning practice session. Next quickest behind the WEST-mounted pair was Scott Bingham in the Minetti, followed by Greg Steer, Rick Otten, Bruce Burchett and Bob Townsend.

The first race was a standing start affair, and Aaron Steer managed to get ahead of Laucke in the early laps. Laucke took the lead back on the fourth lap, and retained it until the finish at the end of lap 8. The pair crossing the line only a second apart. Bingham took out third place, ahead of Burchett, Greg Steer, Rick Otten and Bob Townsend.

The second race was a rolling start, and this time Laucke retained his lead, managing to keep steer behind for the entire 15 lap distance, although this time the pair were separated by just 2 tenths of a second as they took the chequered flag! In third this time it was Greg Steer, followed by Burchett, Otten, Bingham and Townsend.

The third and final race was a 24 lap affair, but it was held in two parts due to a mid-race red flag. The extended distance saw a number of retirements (some no doubt due to "fuel pressure" problems ie; not quite enough fuel in the tank to cover the additional laps associated with the red flag). Retirements included Mark Laucke, Greg Steer, Bruce Burchett and Bob Townsend.

This left Aaron Steer effectively unchallenged to take the race win. He finished nearly 30 second ahead of Scott Bingham, with Rick Otten in third.

The final race win was enough to give Steer the round win. Laucke had done enough in the first two races to secure second place outright, and Scott Bingham took third.

Class winners were: Oxygen - Aaron Steer, Radon - Scott Bingham, Neon - Rick Otten.

For full results from this round, click here.

For the full photo gallery from the round, click here.

The next round of the Le Mans Sports Series will be held at Queensland's Morgan Park, 15-16 November, where Mark Laucke is bound to be aiming to redress the result from Oran Park.