The RX8 Cup Series returned to Sydney Motorsport Park for Round 5 of the 2024 championship. A brilliant field of 21 cars would hit the track Saturday morning for 15 minutes of qualifying. Robert Scott claimed his maiden Revolution Racegear Pole Position setting a time of a 1:48.0. John Bowe locked out the front row just 0.084 behind Scott with the championship points leader Michael Hazelton in 3rd. Jett Blumeris was 4th fastest, Grant Bray and Jared Pyke qualified 5th and 6th respectively. Max Wilson and Jackson Noakes occupied row 4. Ben McConochie and Bailey Scott rounded out the top 10.
Hazelton was fast from the onset in race 1. He led the early laps with Robert Scott and Bowe on his heels. A little further back, Pyke, Wilson and Noakes were having a spirited battle. Hazelton looked great in the lead, he strung together a series of consistent laps, this was until he ran into engine problems. Unfortunately the current championship leader would retire with Robert Scott taking control of the race. Bowe was never too far away keeping the leader honest. The race to the final podium position was a close affair between Pyke and Wilson. At the end Robert Scott won and secured plenty of points towards his championship challenge. Bowe was 2nd and Wilson 3rd with his personal best finish.
Race 2 on Saturday afternoon would see Hazelton sadly not take part with the turn around too short between races to make the engine change. Robert Scott made the best start and was closely followed by Bowe. Bailey Scott had a coming together with the #83 of Grant Bray after Bray slowly rolled off the start with Bailey unable to avoid him in front, leaping the car in the air and braking his front left wheel assembly on the way down. He eventually coasted to a halt just before turn 2. The race had to be red flagged and shortened to a 3-lap sprint. At the restart, Robert Scott repeated his great form and took an early lead. This time Bowe was a lot closer, and immediately started looking for a way past. He was successful during the last lap and took home his first RX8 Cup win. Robert Scott finished 2nd and Jared Pyke 3rd on debut from New Zealand. Blumeris and Noakes rounded out the top 5.
John Bowe got a great jump in race 3 and claimed the lead. Pyke slotted himself into 2nd and followed Bowe into turn 2 looking for an overtaking move on the leader. Credit to Bowe, positioning his car brilliantly to deny any overtake. Once the leader settled into a race rhythm, he was able to build up a small gap. The battle for 2nd was a different story, Pyke and Robert Scott thrilled the onlookers with a nose to tail dice. The outcome was only evident in the conclusion. A grandstand finish of less than 1 second separation went to Robert Scott claiming second place. Pyke was 3rd from Blumeris and Noakes another consistent top 5 finish. Hazelton would bring home a solid 6th place after starting from the rear but unfortunately encountered further engine issues post race bringing an end to his weekend.
The experienced Bowe left his best race to the final. He quickly took control of the race building a 0.8 second per lap margin to his nearest competitor. The dice for the minor places was a great affair between Pyke, Robert Scott and Blumeris. These 3 drivers swapped position multiple times. Further down the field, Totani was having a private dice with Maisie Place. The pair of Martin Lyall and Grant Bray were also in a spirited battle. In the lead Bowe was unstoppable, even a 5 second penalty for a start infringement did not stop him taking the win and the round. Robert Scott came home second putting one hand on the Championship trophy with a solid weekend. Jared Pyke was an impressive 3rd from Wilson and Blumeris. Noakes finished in 6th from Lyall and Bray. McConochie and Leonard rounded out the top 10.
Round 5 at SMP was certainly nothing short of action packed with many awesome stories headlining the weekend. Congratulations to John Bowe for taking out the round win, Robert Scott who now leads the championship finished 2nd for the weekend ahead of Trans Tasman Drive Prize winner Jared Pyke who also took home the Old Rubber Award being the highest placed driver on used tyres. Thanks to our partners Scott Property Group and Disc Brakes Australia for their support in 2024. The final Round 6 will take place at Morgan Park Raceway (QLD) 8-10th November
RX8 Cup Championship points 2024
1st – Robert Scott 495 points
2nd – Mik Hazelton 441 points
3rd – Martin Lyall 372 points
4th – Jett Blumeris 352 points
5th – Jackson Noakes 286 Points
