Bell Rings In Title Win On Record Breaking Night

Popular Warrnambool driver Jack Bell has successfully defended his Victorian Formula 500 Championship at Heytesbury Stockfeeds Simpson Speedway last Saturday night presented by Westvic Sheds and Garages.

From position two Bell led all 25 laps and took the chequered flag first from Simpson’s Tim Rankin and Warrnambool’s Dylan Willsher with Angelo Karrousis and Lilydale teenager Tyler Maggs in fifth.

L-R- Tim Rankin, Jack Bell, Dylan Willsher- Donna’s Photo’s

“(It was) awesome to win our third Victorian title at Simpson. Huge thank you to everyone that gets this car on the track especially my family,” Bell said.

Over the course of the night the Formula 500 one lap record was broken 11 times. Dylan Willsher’s previous record of 13.553 set nearly two years ago finally was officially broken by Maggs 13.230 seconds.

The new 10 lap record is now held by Liam Russell with a time of 2:15.524 bettering James Aranyosi’s 2:16.876 set in April, 2016.

In the Junior Formula 500s Koby O’Shannassy won the 15 lap Junior Development Cup from Rusty Ponting and Dakota Luckett.

O’Shannassy had a win and two seconds in his qualifying heats and would start the feature from pole position and after a smooth drive led the entire race to a solid victory.

L-R Tyson Heaphy, Max Leersen & Steane Cosson- Shane Sharrock

The New Stars final of 12 laps was won by Max Leersen from Tyson Heaphy and Steane Cosson and in the Top Stars feature Miller Throckmorton got home first from Jayden Lock and Cruz Farrell.

L-R- Jayden Lock, Miller Throckmorton and Cruz Farrell-Photo Shane Sharrock

Throckmorton’s pace saw him break the one lap time of 18.270 seconds and the 10-lap record was lowered by some six seconds by James Oliver in earlier heat racing. He set a new time of 3:06.043 that was previously held by B.Dignan with 3:12.60 .

The next meeting at Heytesbury Stockfeeds Simpson Speedway will be on April 15 and feature The Merrett Family Trophy Race for Wingless Sprints. Street Stocks and VSC Unlimited Sedan are also on the program.