17 Year Old Queenslander Brock Hallett has won his 3rd title in a row by taking out Saturday nights (28th March) South Australian Formula 500 Title at Mt Gambier’s Borderline Speedway and in doing so created History by becoming the 1st driver to win the Australian Championship and 2 State Titles in the same season.

Hallet had almost a perfect night with his only blemish courtesy of a 2nd place finish in his 2nd heat. Ben McLeod topped off a good night by finishing a close 2nd with Kym Gower rounding out the Top 3.

Hallet shared the front row with current Aust 2 Gavin Hutton. McLeod and Gower occupied the second row. Queensland Champ Mick Pronger shared the 3rd row with the “Excitment Machine” Steve James. Former Australia 2 Gary Hart started from 7th with Liam Williams 8th. Defending South Australian Champion, Steven Gay started 9th with Scott Dillon rounding out the Top 10.Dale Sinclair Started 11th, Michael Wise 12th, Leigh Van Ginneken 13th, Alex McLaughlin 14th, Ash Hicks 15th, Jeremy Beddison 16th and Tim Hicks 17th. Nathan Pronger won the B-Main from Jack McCarthy, Grant Fleming and Ross Miller grabbing the last transfer spot.

The start of the race was marred by a nasty accident when contact in turn 1 caused Nathan Pronger and Tim Hicks to roll heavily with Ross Miller, Jeremy Beddison and Steve James also involved. All 5 cars took no further part in the race. At the restart Hallet jumped to the lead and looked to have it done on the 1st corner. Meanwhile Hutton and McLeod started the battle which eventually lead to McLeod passing Hutton on Lap 6. 1 lap later Gower past Hutton with Williams and Mick Pronger behind. Wise and Gay engaged in a battle for the next 7 laps before Wise got loose and clouted the turn 1 wall causing the Wise Trucks SA#88 to flip. Just as this happened, McLeod passed Hallett for the Lead. Due to the stoppage Hallett was reinstated in the lead with McLeod relegated back to 2nd.
With 9 to go Hallett led McLeod and Gower. Williams followed by Pronger. Gay was next in line closely followed by Hutton, Hart, Van Ginneken, Sinclair, Hicks and Dillon with Fleming rounding out the field. On Lap 13 Hart and Hutton swapped positions with the two swapping back on the very next lap with the order remaining the same for the final 6 laps.
At the Presentations Hallet was wrapped to complete the Hatrick. “I don’t know what it is but I have just had an awesome car this month. Maybe it is because you have been at the track when I have raced” referring to Commentator Daniel Kirby. McLeod was happy to finally put some poor results behind him and finish the month off in 2nd. “We had a good car all night but after that restart Brock just had the edge on me” Gower was wrapped with 3rd. “It is great to finally get a good result. I think I might have to loose 20 kilos though to try and keep up with these young guys”

Earlier Nathan Pronger won the B-Main from Jack McCarthy and Grant Fleming with Ross Miller grabbing the final Transfer spot from Marcus Heinrich and Simon Reichardt. The B-Main was marred by a nasty crash that saw Jock Baker hook a rut in Turn 4 causing him to flip. Jess Moulden who had a retched night ran into Baker with Moulden coming out of it with a crushed front wing and a sore neck.

9 Heat Races where conducted with wins going to Hallet and Gower (2). Singles went to McLeod, Hutton, Nathan Pronger, Mick Pronger and Williams.

Gavin Hutton now holds the new 1 Lap Record set in the 1st heat at Borderline Speedway with a 12.936 eclipsing the record set by Laurance Quagliata back in 2001 with a 13.36. In fact 9 Cars were below that existing benchmark demonstrating that the track was fast right from the 1st lap of the night.