R3 LITES RACES - Canto reclaims series lead
18/6/2000 20:09 (Jason Whittaker) - Dean Canto reclaimed the lead in the Konica V8 Lites Series at Oran Park today after three dominant races from the EL Falcon driver in front of 3,500 spectators.
"It’s great to get back into the lead of the championship," said Canto. "I’m just happy to win again."
Canto now leads the Konica series by 26 points from Matthew White, who claimed second despite not finishing the final race.
Queenslander Craig Harris, who qualified on pole position, took third after an exciting battle with Canto in race two.
White won the reversed-grid race two by a whisker after a race long battle with 1998 Bathurst Privateer winner Mal Rose. The pair crossed the line door-to-door with White winning by a mere 0.01sec.
"My tyre was actually delaminated on the last two laps and I could hardly keep the thing (car) on the track so I came home for a very tight finish," said White.
Previous Konica V8 Lites Series leader Ryan McLeod had an uphill battle all day after a shunt in qualifying severely damaged the Kmart Commodore and forced him to start from the rear of grid.
Despite some valiant charges through the field, McLeod was unable re-join the front-runners on race day but managed 14 points from the round.
McLeod will be looking to regain lost points when the Konica V8 Lites Series heads to Queensland’s Lakeside on August 5-6.
**CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE**
1st DEAN CANTO (Dean Canto Racing) - EL Falcon [142]
2nd MATTHEW WHITE (Matthew White Racing) - VS Commodore [116]
3rd McLEOD (JFR K-Mart Racing) - VS Commodore [114]
4th WAYNE WAKEFIELD (Graphic Skills Racing) - VS Commodore [88]
5th CRAIG HARRIS (Carsales.com.au Racing) - EL Falcon [53]
6th GARRY HOLT (Eastern Creek Karts Racing) – EL Falcon [52]
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