Macdonald brothers give strong showing for Round 2 at BIS
Thursday January 28, 2010

Click here to view photos from the event

Round two of the Exide Batteries Nambour QLD Series was held at Brisbane International Speedway on Saturday night the 16th January, with both Shane and Nathan Macdonald displaying a strong presence in the feature race.  QLD Champion Shane Macdonald qualified the 30-lap final out of position three, while Brett Baxter was to be off pole position with Aidan Raymont on the outside.  Nathan qualified his car out of position ten in the 20 car field.

The race got underway with Shane settling into 3rd place, while Nathan soon started to make his move early on advancing to 5th place by lap 5 behind Glenn Pagel.  Brett Baxter took control of the race early from Aidan Raymont, as Shane's car started to come on strong mid-race, reeling Aidan Raymont in and making a pass on the outside.  Shane worked the high line and concentrated on reeling in race leader Brett Baxter.  Macdonald looked confident in the car advancing closer to Baxter each lap until Macdonald retired onto the infield on lap 20 with a broken tail shaft.

Nathan was unable to move further forward, having to race the fast finishing Rodney Pammenter and Steve Price for 5th.  Pammenter went on to claim 3rd place after starting from position 13 (and after rolling the car in his second heat).  Meanwhile it was all Brett Baxter out in front taking the win and the series lead in the process.  Glenn Pagel finished 2nd with Pammenter in 3rd, followed by Aidan Raymont, Nathan Macdonald and Steve Price.

Shane Macdonald started the night off in incredible fashion, starting from 4th position in his heat, racing to the lead in the first turn and opening up a sizeable lead to take the win in convincing fashion.

In what was one of the best races of the night, local Toowoomba racers Robert Trapp and Shane Macdonald put on an exceptional display in their second heat.  Trapp breaking away to an early lead until there was a caution for Jason Jolley after he spun in turn four.  This left Macdonald behind Trapp on the restart.  The two drivers with each a mountain of respect for each other, raced door to door for the next 8 laps, with Trapp making the ever so slightest of errors on the final turn allowing Shane an incredible last lap run to snare the win by a mere  .058 of a second.

The final heat for Shane and whilst running in 4th on the final lap, Robert Trapp come into contact with Jason Jolley on the final lap who tried to pull off the track with a flat tyre.  Macdonald slamming into the side of Trapp.  The race results were as they crossed the line with Rodney Pammenter taking the win from Geoff Hayes, Jason Jolley, Wayne Fischer, Shane Macdonald and Robert Trapp credited with 6th.

Nathan was able to grab two 5th placings in his heats, while a front row start for his third heat saw Macdonald race to the lead and open up a sizeable leak over Aidan Raymont, until a restart closed the gap.  Macdonald was under pressure from Raymont, with Macdonald hanging on the outside trying to run on the cushion.  Macdonald obtained his first win of the night pulling a couple car lengths over Raymont in 2nd and Steve Price in 3rd.

The next meeting for Shane and Nathan is on the 13th of February at Charlton Raceway for Round 3 of the Exide Batteries Nambour QLD Series.  Shane currently sits in 5th and will be looking to advance up the table at his home track.  The weekend after Shane and Nathan will be travelling to Gympie for Round 4 of the series and the 30/30 race.  The pair choosing to run Shane's proven QLD title winning car at the venue.

The two brothers have recently made the big call to contend the Australian Modified Production Title in Tasmania on the 12th and 13th March 2010.  Shane's recently acquired transporter will help with the journey, towing Nathan's car behind.  The pair also plan to hang around for the Tasmanian Title the week after at Hobart on the 20th March 2010.

Macdonald Racing for the 2009/2010 season is supported by -

Toowoomba Steering and Suspension
Forbes Batteries
Linmac Automotive
RCP Machining
Repco
The Speed Shop