Purser wins series, Fraser takes final round

Despite failing to finish the final race of the season, John Purser has won the Metabo sponsored WA Modified Drivers Association Series.

Purser withdrew from the twenty lap race just at three quarter distance, and was credited with finishing tenth.

His main rival for the series championship, Broome based Mick Johnson, was a non starter in the Feature after mechanical problems in his three heats.

The final race was run at Ellenbrook Speedway, just north of Perth, who used their new permanent track lights for the first time.

Nineteen drivers fronted for the twilight meeting and contested six heats before the Final.

Heat winners included Purser, Johnson, Neville Manstead, Matt Kata, Brendan Selleck and Ayden Trewern.

Thirteen drivers started the Final with top qualifiers Matthew Kata on pole and Brendan Selleck on his outside.

Behind these two were Peter Fraser, John Purser, Ayden Trewern, Jason Pearce, Neville Manstead, Neville Bylund, Barry Hall, Allan Mortimer, Ken Tucker, Rob Boyd and Rob Fraser.

Missing from the starting line up were Mick Johnson, Kim Williams, Dane Kingshott, Kim Jolly, Simon Quinn and Shane Van Daele. All had mechanical problems except Van Daele who bent the front end of his Commodore when he hit the fence during heat racing.

Selleck grabbed the lead from the outset but was soon under siege from Kata, Peter Fraser and John Purser.

Fraser found a way passed Kata and pressured Selleck, and approaching the half way mark took the lead. In the meantime Trewern had found his way into the top three claiming Kata and Purser in quick succession.

Trewern was on a mission and rapidly closed on the leading pair of Fraser and Selleck. After several laps he found a way underneath Selleck and was right on the tail of Fraser.

The top three had established a handy break over the pursuing pack of Purser, Kata, Jason Pearce, Neville Bylund, Allan Mortimer and Neville Manstead.

In the concluding stages of the race lapped traffic became part of the equation and Fraser, Trewern and Selleck put on a great battle.

Fraser was able to hold both Trewern and Selleck at bay in the frantic final laps to score a popular win.

The twenty lap race was run without major incident and went green to checkered.

Grant Woodhams

Round Winner Peter Fraser