Peter Boylan scored his first Australian GT Round win at Eastern Creek on the weekend. Boylan finished first in class in the first one hour endurance race, having to fight the Tim Poulton/Stig Richards combination for the class win, before going on to finish third in class in the second race.

Boylan admits that age should be no barrier.

He explained, “If you want to do something, then age shouldn’t stop you. You should be able to go out and enjoy motor racing as long as you don’t get in people’s way. I had some really good dices.”

Boylan was doing triple duties over the weekend, also competing in his 997 Cup Car in Production Sports and the 1974 Carrera in Group S Historics.

“It was a lot of fun,” remarked an ecstatic Boylan. “I think the big issue was jumping from the Group S car to the 997Cup Car, then doing a one hour race, coming in and having to out straight away for another one hour race. I’ve had a fantastic weekend and picked up a few trophies.”

Boylan admits that Eastern Creek Raceway is his favourite Australian track – adding to the thrill of his weekend.

“I’ve got to comment that Eastern Creek Raceway has got to be the best race track in Australia. It is fantastic,” said Boylan.

In Group S Boylan was Mr Consistent. In all three races over the weekend he finished in 4^th place, talking 4^th for the round along with it.

Racing in the 997 Cup Car, Boylan held on for 11^th outright in the Production Sports sprint race – 10^th in class. For the one hour endurance he had just a matter of minutes after his GT drive to get back out for race two, in which he came 7^th – 6^th in class.

Steve Borness’ weekend was just as good – taking a clean sweep of Group S. The Carrera proved to be too strong for everyone else, taking first in all three races.

“The car was very good, my fantastic pit crew had the car going well all day,” said Borness.

In the Production Sports sprint race Borness finished third in class – 22^nd outright before going on to finish 16^th – 3^rd in class for the one hour endurance.

Borness commented, “We have a car that’s 36 years old this year and the brakes are what they had on the road back in those days. To run this car around at pace for an hour is always good fun.”

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A MIXED WEEKEND IN PERTH

The Perth Trading Post Challenge proved to be a mixed weekend for Autohaus Hamilton in both categories AHH had entries in. Terry Lawlor in the Touring Car Masters (presented by Autobarn) ran in the top twelve all weekend before engine issues prevented him from competing in the third race, while Carrera Cup's Shane Smollen had a consistent weekend but was tarnished by a puncture in the third race.

After missing the first round of the Touring Car Masters series in Adelaide, Lawlor was determined to make his debut in Perth count. The Exclusive Body Werks Carrera was quick from the time the car hit the track with tenth and 12 th places respectively in the two practice sessions.

Lawlor then went on to qualify in tenth position for the first race which he went on to claim ninth outright and first in class in. This gave Lawlor pole position for the reverse grid in race two. He led the field into turn one and held this position until lap three. On lap seven he began to lose power but managed to salvage eighth position outright and another class win.

"The car was fantastic. It has plenty of power and good handling for the weekend," commented Lawlor. "The guys from Autohaus Hamilton and Exclusive Body Werks have done a great job in preparing the car."

Lawlor's weekend came to a premature end following race two from a mechanical gremlin.

The focus now shifts to the next round of the series at Darwin's Hidden Valley circuit next month. Lawlor admits the Porsche will struggle against the high horsepower V8s but will treat the weekend as a chance to focus on class results rather than outright.

He said, "It's certainly a shame we didn't get to start race three. I'm looking forward to Darwin. I've heard it's very much a horsepower track, which we don't have, but it will be a chance to prove ourselves amongst the class and see how we go against the other Porsches."

In the Carrera Cup, Shane Smollen started his weekend in 13 th after both practice sessions before going on to qualify in 11 th spot.

In race one Smollen was able to come home in 12th position before going on to come 13th in race two. Race three for Smollen was hampered by a puncture which forced him into the pits on lap 14 for a tyre change. Smollen made his best effort to come back but ended up in 19 th .

"It could have been a worse," reflected Smollen. "We learnt a lot this weekend. It took a lot to get a grip on the track and I was driving a bit conservatively. "

Carrera Cup now heads to Townsville in July for the first time. With nearly the whole field having never raced at Townsville and the field in equal cars, Smollen believes the round will prove to be a test of driver skill.

Terry Lawlor thanks the following for their support of his 2011 Touring Car Masters (presented by Autobarn) campaign:

-           Exclusive Body Werks

-           Autohaus Hamilton

-           Glasurit

-           EBS Racing America

Shane Smollen thanks the following for their support of his 2011 Carrera Cup campaign:

-           McGrath Estate Agents

-           Autohaus Hamilton
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SMOLLEN PREPARES TO STEP UP FOR CARRERA CUP OPENER

Former Australian GT driver Shane Smollen has said he ' s excited and focused for Round One of the Carrera Cup series despite having limited experience on the track. Smollen said he ' s been busy doing his homework to compensate for the low number of laps he ' s done of the Albert Park circuit ahead of the series opener next weekend.

" It ' s a track I have limited time around and I ' m going there in a car I am still getting used to, " remarked Smollen. " We have done some pre-season testing but there is still plenty to work on particularly with some changing conditions possible this weekend"

This year Smollen will be racing against several of his Australian GT Championship competitors from 2010, where he picked up the Rookie of the Year, as well as a strong group of professional drivers. He commented it will be a great challenge in the one make series, particularly with the calibre of drivers on the entry list but it will only improve him as a driver.

" It ' s a strong field. " Smollen explained, " I wouldn ' t have joined the series if I didn ' t think I could learn from it. Having V8 Supercar drivers such as Skaife, Richards and Baird will only raise the series profile but it ' s important not to get carried away and to maintain focus on my own race. "

Sporting an exciting new livery, Smollen will once again have an Autohaus Hamilton prepared and managed car, a combination which saw him become Australian GT Challenge winner in 2010, finishing on the podium at nearly all of the rounds.

Shane Smollen thanks the following for their support in 2011:

-           McGrath Estate Agents
-           Autohaus Hamilton

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POSITIVE WEEEND FOR PETER BOYLAN 

Peter Boylan has plenty of positives to take from his first round in the Australian GT Series at the Clipsal 500. It was the first time Boylan has raced his Porsche 997 Cup Car in two years and spent the weekend getting back into the swing of things, picking up third and fourth positions in the Challenge Class in the two races.

"The car arrived in pristine condition and fortunately leaving in a pristine condition," commented Boylan with a smile. "I'm very pleased with how the weekend went."

After qualifying in 20 th position, fifth in class, Boylan made steady progress in the hour long twilight race on Friday Night. Consistent laps saw him make his way to 10 th outright at the end of the hour. Despite a momentary lapse in judgement on his final lap, which saw Boylan spin after missing his braking point, he was able to hold on to take third in the Challenge class.

"I'm getting a Iittle older so I prefer longer races," admitted Boylan, who has competed in several 24 hour events around the world.

In the second race Boylan dropped back to outright 14 th position outright with Championship Class cars that did not finish race one charging past him. Boylan only lost one position in class, finishing fourth in the Challenge division.

"I'm fortunate to have Porsche specialists Grant Geelan and Steven Brooke from Autohaus Hamilton looking after the car. They have given me a comfortable race car and most importantly a safe car." Boylan continued, "The cars are fairly fast and you have to have a comfortable car, especially at high speed corners like turn eight."

Round two of the Australian GT Series takes place at Winton Raceway, May 20-22.

Peter Boylan would like to thank the following for their support in 2011:

-           Boylan Group
-           Boylan Traffic Solution
-           BarrierGuard 800
-           Boylan Eagle Eye
-           Bottle Zap
-           Cairns Plaza Hotel
-           Autohaus Hamilton

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After a victorious season in Australian GT, Porsche specialists Autohaus Hamilton are gearing up for the Carrera Cup Series in 2011. Challenge division Champion Shane Smollen will pilot the Autohaus Hamilton prepared entry in the series' return to the Australian calendar.

The prospect of entering the one make series is a dream come true for the Autohaus Hamilton team, especially manager Grant Geelan.

"Autohaus Hamilton is thrilled to be a part of Carrera Cup this year," commented Geelan. "Shane did a great job for us in the 997 Cup Car in Australian GT and we are looking forward to hopefully another great year in Carrera Cup."

Last year was a consistent season for the team in Australian GT, picking up a third, second and three consecutive round victories in the six round series. Along the way Smollen also snagged five race wins in the Challenge class as well as the Rookie of the Year award. There was only one round of the series where Smollen and Autohaus Hamilton did not finish the weekend on the podium.

The seven round campaign kicks of in March at the Australian Grand Prix and takes Autohaus Hamilton Around the nation to Barbagallo, Townsville, Phillip Island, Surfers Paradise and Homebush as a support category to the V8 Supercar Championship.

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