Hamstead Closes Gap with Win in Japan

Round Nine of the iRacing.com V8 Supercars Series presented by BigPond saw the teams travel to Japan for a 20 lap shootout at the famous Suzuka International Racing Course. This 5.8km course features a unique cross-over design, with 17 turns and little room for error. Madison Down grabbed the pole position in qualifying with a blistering lap of 2:05.030.  Richard Hamstead would start beside Down, just a tenth back in qualifying, while Justin Ruggier, Curtis Chippeway and Vail Riches rounded- out the top five starting spots, all under the 2:06 mark. When the lights went green it was Hamstead getting the jump on Down while Ruggier bogged down on the start and dropped places left right and center.   Ruggier found himself three wide heading into Turn One, with Mitchell McLeod [...]