Mount Gambier Dunlop Super2 Series driver Kai Allen has extended his championship lead after a successful weekend at the NTI Townsville 500.
Allen leads the title race by 114 points on 801 followed by second placed Aaron Cameron on 687 and Zach Bates with 648.
Allen qualified 13th for the first race of the weekend, which would not usually be an ideal spot to start but proved to be a blessing in disguise for the young gun due to a crash by the front runners on the opening lap at turn three.
“It actually worked out quite well because we qualified 13th,” he said.
“I think I was in the right spot that race because the front guys had a massive pile up on lap one, so I feel like if I did qualify better I would have been in amongst it.
“As bad as it was, it could not have gone any better for me, so being P13 and charging through to fifth with a super speedy race car was pretty cool.
“I just basically stayed out of trouble and tried to bag something close (to the front) which was great.
“I was sort of in recovery mode, but after that we ended up in fifth and then had to regroup for Sunday.”
Allen was quickest on track when qualifying for the second race of the weekend got under way, with the session interrupted by a red flag.
Once qualifying resumed, Allen speared his Commodore to the front with a lap time of 1:14.5761s, before opponent Zach Bates put it all on the line to claim pole position.
“I knew charging through that my car was really fast so I just had to make sure to capitalise on qualifying, which was quite difficult because we had a red flag and that sort of mixed everything up, we just were sort of out of sync a bit,” he said.
“We got caught out because we were at the front and we went and no one else really did, so by the time myself and a couple of others were starting our laps there was a lot of other guys warming up their tyres – so we just got caught up in traffic.”
The Eggleston Motorsport driver finished the weekend with a victory, crossing the finish line more than six seconds in front of Zach Bates.
Allen dominated the front early on, controlling the pace in a clean safety car free race in which he was never headed.
“I got the jump on Zach at turn one and I just managed to lead from there and we went green flag no safety cars, so it was really good for me to work on that endurance,” he said.
“Saving the tyres is super crucial around there because it is super-hot and the way the corners are, so I feel like I got the most out of myself in that race and then working with my engineer Dan we nailed the set up.
“At the start of the race it did not look very good, but that was just me saving the tyre and once Zach Bates and Jack Perkins started to fight I knew I had to put my head down and bum up and pull away and I ended up with a pretty healthy margin over second and third in that race.
“It was a really good stepping stone for me learning and just making sure I can really feel the tyre and learn what I can do to get the most out of the car in those situations and we had a good race … I really could not fault the team and myself in that race.
“I’m super happy with the end of the weekend, it did not start too good for me but we walked away with a race win and a front row start in qualifying, so could not really ask for much more.
“I got to extend my championship lead which is great heading into Sandown and just keep trying to build that gap, so if we do have something go wrong we still have a little bit up our sleeve to make sure that nothing else happens.”
Allen will juggle double duties at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 on September 13-15 with a co-driver seat for Shell V-Power Racing Team, representing Dick Johnson Racing alongside Will Davison in the #17 as well as his usual Dunlop Super2 Series drive for Eggleston Motorsport.
“It will be super taxing on the body and the mind, so (I need to make) sure that when I do jump in the car for Super2 I am sharp and know what I need to do in that race and take it race by race,” he said.
“I will spend a bit of time with the Shell V-Power Racing Team and Will Davison getting ready for that, which will then automatically prep me for Super2.
“I have a few little things to work on over the break and just making sure I am healthy and fit and just on top of my game leading in so that we can do the best we can.
“We have a really good shot with DJR with Will, he is a great, very experienced, fast driver – so I need to make sure I do my job right and give him the car in a good spot and try and let him hopefully fight for a really positive finish for Sandown.”
Allen said he could not yet confirm rumours about a potential main game seat for the Shell V-Power Racing Team in the future.
“I am sure it will all work itself out towards the end of the year, but I just need to focus on Super2 and do the best job I can and that will sort of take care of itself later on,” he said.
“It has been good being brought up with Shell for the last two years … I am open to all options, I want to be in the main game next year so it’s a really good team and a good outfit, (it) would be pretty cool.
“At this stage I need to knuckle down and make sure I am doing the best I can and the rest of it will look after itself, so just wait and see.
“I have done enough prep in the junior categories now, I believe I am ready to go, it is going to be a massive step but I’m ready to take that next challenge and see how we end up.”
