Noah Killion charges to victory in AU4 race two at The Bend
Rookie Noah Killion had to work for victory in the AU4 championship after losing his lead in the early stages.
TAILEM BEND–Noah Killion started on pole for the second race of the AU4 championship, but the rookie had to work hard for victory around The Bend.
"It was great," said Killion.
"I was five seconds behind P1 on lap four, then I took him back to get the lead, so yeah, I was pushing hard laps."
Killion had the better start, but Isaac McNeill was up to second by turn one after a move around the outside, chasing down the AGI Sport machine and taking the lead on the next lap.
With McNeill ahead by half a second, Killion came under pressure from race one winner Harrison Duske, with Duske moving his #35 Volante Rosso machine up to second on the next lap.
Killion didn't let go, holding onto third and making the most of a mistake from Duske to return from second. That move brought Imogen Radburn and Brock Burton back into the fight, with Radburn up into third at turn one on the next lap.
With the order starting to settle, Killion was the fastest on track and chasing down McNeill's lead. With less than five minutes to go, the gap was down to less than a second, with the AGI Sport driver beginning to plot his move for the lead.
The only concern for Killion was saving his tyres, "but I don't really do well at that," said the rookie.
"They were gone by the end, by the last few laps, and really struggling. I dropped a wheel at turn 16 a few times."
McNeill was on the defensive into turn five but the pair both went very deep, with Killion narrowly keeping control of the corner and running off with the lead.
"I had a huge snack of oversteer just as I got to the apex, I almost whacked him," said Killion.
"But still made it stick and got past."
The Sydney-based rookie took the chequered flag with McNeill holding on for second ahead of Imogen Radburn.
Jensen Marold was the star of the Gen 1 category once again, taking the class victory with an outright seventh-place finish.
Killion will take pole position for the final race of the opening weekend on Saturday afternoon.
"Hopefully I'll do the same thing as this race, but maintain the lead the whole race. Not get overtaken like I did this time."
Killion now leads the standings on 40 points, ahead of Harrison Duske on 38 points, with Imogen Radburn and Isaac McNeill both on 33 points.
AU4 Championship - The Bend Race 2 Result
Gen 2
1) Noah Killion
2) Isaac McNeill
3) Imogen Radburn
4) Harrison Duske
5) Brock Burton
6) Georgia Morgan
7) Cohen Kokotovich - DNF
Gen 1
1) Jensen Marold
2) Koby Wilson
3) Andrew Fitzpatrick
4) De'argo Stewart
5) Chloe Lane
6) Jesse James Samuels
7) Lawrence Katsidis
