Joey Mawson fastest off the line to take S5000 weekend opener at Phillip Island
Joey Mawson beat polesitter Cooper Webster off the line and ran away with victory in the first race of the S5000 weekend at Phillip Island.
Joey Mawson leads Cooper Webster around the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. (ARG)
The reigning champion went first into turn one and confidently held the lead at the late race restart to take the chequered flag as the clock ticked down.
"A really good race," said Mawson.
"The easy plan was to get Cooper off the line, which we did. He's one of our best starters so it was a bit of win to get him off the line. Then just managing the tyre, managing the push to pass.
"It was a pretty good race, happy with that."
Joey Mawson celebrates his victory in pit lane. (Stan Sport)
Webster topped qualifying earlier on Saturday to take the first ever S5000 pole position for Versa Motorsport, but struggled with wheelspin off the line to lose the advantage.
Mark Rosser found his Fuzzies Game Team BRM entry stranded on the outside of the turn one gravel trap after four laps, bringing out the safety car.
Mawson led Webster at the restart, with Aaron Cameron and James Golding completing the lead pack. Golding was on a charge as he chased down his teammate over the final laps, making a bold move at the hairpin to take the final podium position on the last lap.
The S5000 field returns on Sunday, with race two at 10.20am (AEST) before the feature race at 2.45pm
S5000 Australian Drivers Championship - Phillip Island Race 1
- Joey Mawson
- Cooper Webster
- James Golding
- Aaron Cameron
- Blake Purdie
- Nic Carroll
- Winston Smith
- Jordan Boys - DNF
- Mark Rosser - DNF
