|
 |
|
|
|
|
Hodge, Delia And Lapaglia Top Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge Podium
Former Australian test cricketer Brad Hodge has taken out the Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge today with a convincing win at the 2013 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix.
|
|
|
Hodge won today's shortened four-lap race ahead of Scottish cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and celebrity chef Shane Delia, who battled it out for the minor places.
Early in the race Jonathan LaPaglia was firmly in the top three but an aggressive passing manoeuvre on Delia pushed the former Underbelly star wide and off the track before recovering in eighth place, which is where he would finish.
There was plenty of panel rubbing during the race with Em Rusciano spectacularly spinning out after a knock from model Jessica Gomes while Jared Daperis and Kate Peck fought wheel to wheel for final bragging rights on the last lap.
After a week of comprehensive driver training followed by three races, Hodge took overall Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge honours having secured pole and winning every race with Shane Delia and Jonathan LaPaglia rounding out the podium.
Showing the competitive nature befitting an Olympic champion, Anna Meares was again the strongest women in the field finishing fourth today, adding to her sixth and fourth places in the weekend's first two five-lap races.
Driver Quotes
What Brad Hodge had to say?
"It has been an amazing week and if it is like this again then I'll put my hand up for sure. We need to find a couple of races in the next 12 months, so we might work through that with Skaifey (Mark Skaife). I think what isclear is that I am too good for this category and need to move to a higher one (laughs)."
What Shane Delia had to say?
"Mazda's are renowned for their safety features so I just tested a few of those out! I was just following the lead and trying to catch up with Hodgey (Brad Hodge) but he belted us for six. The best part of the whole week has been meeting people like Jonathan (LaPaglia), Chris (Hoy) and Hodgey (Brad Hodge). I haven't had a chance to watch the race yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it went down."
What Jonathan LaPaglia had to say?
"Thank god for the points system because if it wasn't for that I wouldn't be here (on the podium). I went for a little picnic in the paddock on the opening lap and finally found my way back onto the track. I did some of my best driving on that grass!"
Race 3 Results
1 Brad Hodge
2 Sir Chris Hoy
3 Shane Delia
4 Anna Meares
5 Mark Beretta
6 Chris Tarrant
7 Matthew Cowdrey
8 Jonathan LaPaglia
9 Jared Daperis
10 Kate Peck
11 Lehmo
12 Holly Candy
13 Vanessa Amorosi
14 Magdalena Roze
15 Sarah De Bono
16 Jessica Gomes
17 Renae Ayris
DNF Em Rusciano
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
