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KATE SEARLE RECORDS FIRST PODIUM RESULT Diggers Rest Formula 500 racer Kate Searle has walked away from the latest round of the Victorian Stampede Series on Saturday night (Feb 2) at Simpson Speedway with a long lasting smile after recording her first podium result in the sport – a third place. In January at Geelong’s Avalon Raceway, Searle was knocking on the door of a podium place until she was caught up in a racing incident. After a season riddled with bad luck, the tide changed at Simpson and the ABC Realestate.com.au F500 was a strong performer. In the opening heat race Searle went head to head with in form fellow lady racer Jessica Moulden. Searle led for the majority of the heat race, until Moulden snuck by in the dieing stages. In the second heat race, Searle made no mistakes and tackled the Simpson track with confidence to win the heat. In the final heat race, Searle started from the back and failed to make any major inroads. “I was very happy with our heats, the first heat was fun when both Jess and I were out in front,” Kate said. Searle started the 20-lap main event from fourth position, however when the outside car on the front row failed to start, she was elevated to second position in the front row. At the wave of the green flag, Searle got the jump on pole sitter Darryl Willsher, but there was a total restart after a rollover back in the field. Second time around, Searle missed the start and settled into second. Searle ran strongly in second position, but in the dieing stages Scott Dillon passed her after making a minor mistake. “I wasn’t physically tired, more mentally tired and I think that cost me second position in the end. It was a wonderful night though, it feels like a win for us,” Searle enthused. “It’s been a tough season for the whole ABC Realestate Racing team and to get that podium result really lifts our spirits for the remainder of the season. “We had a great night racing with Jess Moulden too, she finished fourth. She’s been in excellent form lately. I’m starting to feel better about this Formula 500 racing, it’s all falling into place slowly,” Searle continued. Searle had a band of helpers on the night as well, which she was quick to thank. “A huge thanks to my partner Simon for his help and support, Darren Mollenoyux for his hired help on the night, while Deanne Davis for her constant words of advice and Ken Willsher who gave me two shockers on the night to borrow. The help we have received has been fantastic and much appreciated,” she said. The next meeting for Kate Searle will be at Mt Gambier’s Borderline Speedway in South Australia for the fourth round of the Stallard Chassis and Components Stampede Series. On March 1 she will return to racing in Victoria for the fifth round at Ballarat’s Redline Raceway. ABC Realestate Racing would like to thank the following sponsors for their support throughout season 2007-2008: ABC Realestate, Power Loan, Summa Auto Parts, Mainline DynoLog Dynamometers, Leading Car Care Centre, Dyno-Mite Performance, Red Ed’s Sheds, Gantek and VACC. Release by Jarryd Stokes |
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