Promising signs for Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche team at Carrera Cup Opener

The Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche team has scored a podium result and taken away a tonne of promising potential after the opening round of the Paytner Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at the Albert Park street track this weekend.

Pro-Am driver Rodney Jane collected an overall podium after a safe and strong weekend in his class, while Pro drivers Angelo Mouzouris and Simon Fallon were subject to mixed results.

The weekend ended early for Fallon, when in qualifying on Thursday, he was pitched into a roll over when a slower driver moved across on him and sent Fallon tipping over.

Fallon emerged from the incident with a sore shoulder, but relatively unscathed.

The same could not be said for his Porsche. The car could not be repaired at the track and will undergo significant repair ahead of the second round in Darwin.

“It all happened pretty fast,” said Fallon.

“I was next to a guy and copped a big hit, he ran onto my line as the next thing I knew I was on my head. It was really, really unfortunate.

"At least the other driver came up and apologised, so no bad blood, but a lot of work to be done to the car to get it ready for Darwin.”

It was a more positive weekend for Mouzouris who has stepped up to the Bob Jane T-Marts squad in 2023.

The former Formula Ford champion and Team Sonic graduate had a difficult start to practice with a damaged wheel, and was caught up in slower traffic during qualifying that saw him start towards the back.

After the Race 1 non-race, Mouzouris ripped through the field in Race 2, to take seventh, and in a shortened, wet Race 3, also finished seventh.

“Overall, a positive weekend, first time behind the wheel of the #999 Bob Jane T-Marts Porsche,” said Mouzouris.

“I had a lot of fun and I cannot thank Rod and the team enough for letting me be part of the Bob Jane T Marts journey.

“Practice was not a perfect run. We clipped a wall which meant the boys had to work tirelessly to pull the car back together and have it ready for Qualifying. This forced us to the back of the field, which meant we couldn’t get a proper lap and dropped down the order for Race 1 as a result.

“Race 1 was written off altogether, which meant we were still in P18 for Race 2, and boy it was wet.

“We stormed from P18 to P7 in just 14 laps, which was awesome and the car was super quick. Credit to the Sonic boys.

“Race 3, we basically finished where we started. We didn’t have the greatest pace, however overall it was an awesome weekend and I cannot thank the Sonic crew enough for their hard work.”

For Jane, his podium in the Pro-Am class was a sign that he has made great steps forward after his return from a decade-long racing sabbatical. 8 He finished second in the Pro-Am class and said that he thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.

“It’s my second season since returning in 2022, so I am a bit more comfortable behind the wheel,” said Jane.

“I still have a lot more to learn, but it was nice to be quickly on the pace that we expect.

“Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed getting back on track here at Albert Park. It’s an excellent circuit. It’s a super fast, flowing track.

“Race 2, in the wet, was a bit tricky as I haven’t really driven these cars in wet conditions. The car was awesome, though. Great tyre grip, big downforce and it took me about five laps to settle in and realise just how much grip these things have, especially at the back section of the Albert Park circuit.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

The next round of the Paytner Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship will be held at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway in June.