Macdonald regains Queensland Title
Wednesday April 10, 2013

No track time, no worries. Shane MacDonald might have been lacking track time leading into the 2012–13 season Queensland Modified Sedan Title at South Burnett Speedway in Kingaroy last weekend, but that didn’t stop him from taking out the event for the second time in his career.

Just a week after his brother sensationally finished second in the Australian Title, Shane MacDonald, who took out the 2008–09 Queensland Title at Cairns International Speedway in North Queensland, managed to build his own encouraging Australian Title performance – missing the feature race transfer by one spot and recording the sixth fastest lap of the entire weekend – to claim the narrowest of Queensland Title wins aboard his brand–new VZ Holden Commodore. 

“It was really close there in the end between Mark Raymont and me, but I managed to hold on for the win,” explained Shane MacDonald. “Heading into the weekend, I was aiming for a top–10 finish, but as the race meeting wore on, the more confident I was of achieving a better result.” 

Leading up to the Queensland Title deciding feature race, MacDonald had a mixed run of results. On the opening night, he finished second in his opening heat race, finished last in his second heat race due to driveline failure, and then bounced back in the third and final heat race of the night to finish in second. At the completion of the opening night, MacDonald was 17th on points, but confident of making further progress and rapt with his outright speed. The second night saw him finish his remaining two heat races with a third place and a win. These results put him eighth on points and saw him start the feature race on the outside of the fourth row. 

“If I didn’t have that bad luck in my second heat race on the first night, I probably would’ve been higher in the points,” commented MacDonald. “I was pleased with my recovery and felt confident heading into the feature race because the car was handling great and had good speed.” 

MacDonald made a strong start to the 40–lap feature race, and within the opening laps had moved up to sixth. Using the highline of the track to great effect, he moved into podium contention on the 15th lap and began to chase after the battling Raymont brothers, current Australian Champion Aidan and his brother Mark. Within a couple of laps, MacDonald caught the pair and moved into the lead. He stayed out in front for the majority of the remaining laps, only losing the lead momentarily to Mark Raymont in the closing laps, but fought back to score a gusty win. MacDonald defeated Mark Raymont and Brett Baxter, who finished in second and third place.  

“I had a dream run in the feature race, and it rewarded me with the best possible result,” MacDonald expressed. “Once I got to the front, I was determined to stay there, which was what I did. It’s great to win another Queensland Title, but what made the win even better was that my new car has performed so well out of the blocks, thanks to all of the hard work from my team and sponsors, so that definitely makes winning a lot sweeter.” 

Shane MacDonald would like to thank the following people for all of their support: Keryn MacDonald (wife), Mum and Dad, Nathan and Cyrisse, Samantha and Sean, Robert Trapp, Col, Matthew Burke, Dennis and Jodie Bullpitt, Rodney and Cathy Pammenter, and Peter Lack from GW Racing. 

After his outstanding Australian Title performance the previous weekend, Nathan MacDonald found the going a little tougher at the Queensland Title, and finished the feature race just outside the top 10 in 12th due to suspension failure mid race. 

This Saturday night (April 13) Shane MacDonald will travel to Lismore Speedway to contest the NSW Modified Sedan Title. Nathan will sit out the event as he awaits the imminent birth with his wife of their first child.  

To find out more about Shane and Nathan MacDonald, visit their website www.macdonaldracing.com.        

Shane and Nathan MacDonald are proudly supported in the 2012–13 season by the following sponsors:

• Linmac Automotive
• Mac Graphix
• Trackstar Imports
• Ash Media Speedway Footage
• Toowoomba Steering and Suspension
• RCP Machining
• Highfields Exhaust and Service Centre
• Repco
• Forbes Batteries and Communications
• Eastern Downs Storage and Stopover
• Power Plus Race Engines
• Tracey-Lee Black Photography

Photo by Tracey-Lee Black Photography

 

Shane celebrates his second QLD Title win.

 

-ENDS-

 

Shane and Nathan MacDonald media enquiries: Daniel Powell from Redline Media

Mobile: 0432 126 210

Email: daniel@redlinemedia.com.au

Website: www.redlinemedia.com.au