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HEINRICH CRUSHES TOURING CAR MASTERS FIELD IN RACE 1

The Touring Car Masters field blasts away for the start of race one -TCM The Bend 2024

By Bruce Williams

Date posted: 23 November 2024

South Australian Joel Heinrich in his Whiteline Racing Chevrolet Camaro has taken an easy win in the opening race of the final round of the 2024 Touring Car Masters at The Bend.

With support from Maverick Performance, a small but quality field started the round with all eyes on the battle for the series win between series leader Adam Garwood in his Maverick Industries Commodore and Jamie Tilley in his Mustang the serious contender.

After a qualifying session held earlier in the day, Heinrich in the Whiteline Racing Camaro took pole position ahead of a fast Andrew Fisher in a Torana, and series leader Garwood who claimed third ahead of Ryan Hansford. Jamie Tilley claimed fourth and was still in the hunt for points.

Joel Heinrich - Whiteline Camaro -TCM The Bend 2024

Joel Heinrich in his Whiteline Chevy Camaro dominated race 1 of Touring Car Masters round at The Bend for the final round of the 2024 series. Image: James Smith Photography.

When the lights went green for the 20-minute opening race, it was Heinrich who flew into the lead from pole, as the field charged down the long main straight into turn 1, a light sprinkle of rain started to fall.

While Heinrich made a clean start and started to ease away in front, the battle behind on the opening lap was all action.

Front row starter Fisher, Hansford who had made a messing turn 1 entry, and Danny Buzadzic all in Torana’s, had series leader Garwood tow and were locked in a battle for second position.

Ryan Hansford, Danny-Buzadzic both in Torana's and Scott-Cameron in the second Whiteline Racing Camaro locked in battle for second place in the opening TCM race at The Bend -James-Smith

Ryan Hansford, Danny-Buzadzic both in Torana’s and Scott Cameron in the second Whiteline Racing Camaro locked in battle for second place in the opening TCM race at The Bend -James-Smith

Garwood was in an attacking mood on the opening lap and made a big dive past Hansford to the inside of Fisher at turn 6, in a tyre smoking moment, Garwood made heavy contact with Fisher and the pair tangled heavily and spun, both fell to the back of the field.

Both Fisher, with damage to the left side of the car and Garwood were able to return to racing but the series points battle now hung in the balance.

Avoiding the spinning cars were Danny Buzadzic and Hansford who with Scott Cameron in the Duggan Family Hotels supported Camaro were locked in a battle as the track started to get a little slippery.

Buzadzic and Hansford traded places over several laps with Cameron and Dean Lillie-subbing for Steve Johnson in the Russell Hancock owned Mustang slowing gaining ground on the trio.

A big moment for the series battle happened when Jamie Tilley’s entered the pit lane in his Mustang and headed for a DNF.

After several laps of battling, Hansford made a final pass on Buzadzic at the end of the main straight.

About mid race the order was Heinrich, Hansford, Buzadzic, Cameron, Lillie in the Hancock Mustang, and a recovering Fisher and Garwood who were now in full recovery mode and charging back through the field.

Behind the runaway leader, it was entertaining racing, Fisher had fought back to the battle pack and in quick succession made it past Lillie and Buzadzic and was now into fourth place, with Garwood stalking Lillie.

Andrew Fisher - Torana -Damaged -TCM The Bend 2024 - James Smith

Andrew Fisher in his damaged Torana charged back through the field after impact from Adam Garwood on the opening lap of the first TCM of the weekend at The Bend – James Smith

With the race winding down Buzadzic Torana started to slow with a mechanical issue and he was passed by both Dean Lillie and Adam Garwood in a big recovering drive.

Heinrich dominated the race and took the win by over 15 seconds ahead of Hansford, and in a great drive from the rear of the field Andrew Fisher took third place on the line ahead of fourth placed Cameron in the second of the Whiteline Racing Camaros.

Dean Lillie held off Garwood for fifth with a slowing Buzadzic in seventh position.

In the battle for the series win, Jamie Tilley was an early race retirement and had a DNF which has major ramifications for the series battle.

Races 2 and 3 of the final round of the Touring Car Masters series will be held tomorrow at The Bend, Tailem Bend, South Australia.

Touring Car Masters Race 1 The Bend results

All images: James Smith Photography

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