On Saturday night at Western Australia’s Perth Motorplex, it was Tom Payet who finished out his season in the best possible way.
Payet claimed both the final night feature race and also locked away The Pool Shop Group Speedcars (midget) Perth Motorplex Track Championship.
Payet claimed both of his heat races to start on pole for the 20-lap feature. Daniel Harding, however, was the one who was able to get the jump into the opening turns. Unfortunately it didn’t last long as four cars were involved in a pileup in the opening turn after Corey Smith spun in front of a number of cars and William Douglas finding himself upside down.
Douglas and Smith would find themselves unable to restart, leaving 13 cars for the restart.
Harding got away at the resumption, Payet coming under pressure from both Keenan Fleming and Nick Rowe early before disposing of them and setting out after Harding.
Rowe would settle into third as Joel Watson raced into fourth ahead of Fleming with cars running right up against the wall.
Harding would make his way into lapped traffic on lap eight, while Payet had dropped back slightly, Rowe closing the gap and all over the back of Payet while Watson retired to the infield, elevating Beau Doyle into fourth and Jake Robinson into fifth.
Unfortunately for Doyle he would find himself facing the wrong direction in turn four with only a few laps remaining, bunching the field up for a restart.
Although the result had looked all signed, sealed and delivered, the final five laps said otherwise with Payet diving under Harding on the restart to lead the race with four to go.
Harding fought back and retook the lead but Payet would not give up, racing back by and into the lead as Harding fought hard just to keep up.
Rowe would run in third with Fleming in fourth, but Fleming got by Rowe for third in the dying stages, Payet officially going on to claim the win ahead of Harding and Fleming.
In claiming the feature win, Payet confirmed his status as track champion, taking out the season long championship over Fleming, who got by Vaughan Manders by just 10 points for second place.
Feature Finish (20 Laps)
1. Tom Payet, 2. Daniel Harding, 3. Keenan Fleming, 4. Nicholas Rowe, 5. Gary Mann, 6. Jake Robinson, 7. Alfonso Guadagnino (19), 8. Aron Sharp (19), 9. Rob Golding (19), 10. Vaughan Manders (19), 11. Beau Doyle (19). DNF: Bart Curnow (10), Joel Watson (8), William Douglas (0), Corey Smith (0). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 1.810. Fastest Lap: 17.298 Daniel Harding.