Aaron Cameron declared Tasman Series champion after dramatic no-result at Bathurst
Aaron Cameron has been crowned Tasman Series Champion after the S5000 Tasman Series feature race at Bathurst was declared a non-event.
Aaron Cameron celebrates with Valvoline Team GRM. (S5000)
Cameron was making his way through the field after an earlier incident when he made contact with Luis Leeds into the chase, sending them both into the gravel at high speed.
The race was red-flagged, with Motorsport Australia declaring the race had reached the required distance to award championship points.
Cameron takes home $30,000 for taking out the title, while Roberto Merhi was awarded $10,0000 for second place plus $5,000 for top international.
Nathan Herne started the final feature race on pole position, with James Golding getting past into the lead off the start.
Championship leader Aaron Cameron stalled off the line and fell to the rear of the pack, as the pair of Team BRM teammates battled for second off the line.
Joey Mawson was quickest into turn one but ran wide through Hell Corner, with Roberto Merhi taking second.
The frantic running was briefly calmed as the pack ran over the top of the mountain, but the battle resumed at the fastest part of the circuit.
Nathan Herne thought twice about a move around Luis Leeds for sixth at the end of Conrod Straight, but was able to recover to sail past Leeds out of The Chase with Cameron close behind him.
The Valvoline Team GRM charge through the pack quickly ended in tears, with Cameron clipping Herne into Hell Corner.
The pair spun out into the gravel trap and brought out the safety car.
All of this in just two laps.
The race was red-flagged after a high-speed crash involving Aaron Cameron and Luis Leeds. (Fox Sports)
Cameron came into the pits for a new front wing, and caught the back of the field under the safety car.
The race resumed on lap five, with Roberto Merhi running wide and gifting second place back to teammate Mawson.
Tim Macrow came under intense pressure from Jordan Boys and Luis Leeds at the restart but was able to hold the position through Griffins, with Cameron catching the rear of this battle in seventh place.
Cameron came down Conrod Straight behind Leeds with a full head of steam, and attempted a move through the kink into the chase.
The two drivers collided in a dramatic collision that sent both flying into the gravel.
A red flag brought the race to an end, declared a no-result by Motorsport Australia.
Full championship results remain provisional pending Motorsport Australia approval.
