Yarramundi driver David Sieders has won the V8 Ute Racing Series and finished second in the Toyota 86 series in an exciting weekend of racing at Homebush Olympic Park on December 2-4.
The 32-year-old former Winmalee High student started from pole in his first race of the Australian V8 Utes after a great qualifying session, with his main rival, Nathan Pretty, managing a starting position of seventh.
In race one, Sieders got a good start and rubbed fenders all the way to turn one where he took the lead with Ryal Harris slotting into second.
“It’s taken so much to get here, I just don’t think it has really sunk in,” Sieders said.
“To finally win it, win the round and reset the lap records on the final weekend that this track will be used seems so perfect.”
He made his debut in the V8 Ute Series in 2010, and he has three runner-up titles to his name.
“It's definitely been a lot of hard work to finally win this title," said Sieders. "We've always gone out with the goal of winning races, and being the fastest car on track, and this year it finally all went together to give us the championship".
Sieders won race one with Pretty finishing in fifth, with the win securing him the championship.
In race two, Sieders started from ninth.
The race was shortened to eight laps after a safety car intervention of two laps. Sieders recovered to finish fourth, setting a new lap record for the track, which will likely not be broken, with no more racing at Homebush after this year.
In race three, Sieders started from pole. The start had Sieders and Ryal Harris banging doors down to turn one with Sieders prevailing to take the lead.
After several nose to tail shunts, Sieders cleared out to a comfortable lead which he maintained to the finish.
Meanwhile, Sieders came into the Toyota 86 series lying second in the championship with a deficit of 68 points to William Brown.
By the end of practice two on December 2 he was the second fastest, and had a good start for the weekend finale.
Saturday (December 3) was a cooler day and qualifying for Sieders was not as strong, only managing 18th while his team-mate and championship leader would start from pole position for race one.
In race one, Sieders raced well but could do little to improve his position.
A safety car intervention did not prove to be an advantage crossing the finishing line in 11th while his rival won the race.
The second race was abandoned after a first lap incident that blocked the track, so no points were awarded.
At that stage, Sieders still had a mathematical chase of the championship, but his team-mate already has one hand on the trophy.
The third race saw Sieders start from position 11, on the sixth row on the grid, which was a massive spanner in his points chase.
He raced well but found it hard work in the middle of the pack and ended up finishing in ninth.
Sieders lamented his bad qualifying session early on in the weekend, but the odds were stacked against him.
