Zak back to Best in race three of the Bend

By Meg Saultry

Aug 30, 2019

Benalla’s Zak Best put his race three horrors to bed in Adelaide last weekend, winning the final race of round four of the Super3 series at The Bend.

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But on a disappointing note for the teenager, Best finished the weekend further back from the Championship title lead than when he started.

After early exits in race three of both Winton and Queensland Raceway, Best’s final race win at The Bend was critical, with double points on offer.

But this time it was the opening race on Saturday that set Best's weekend back a step.

Qualifying in the second row for race one, Best was forced to come off the track after grass got into the radiator of his Ford Falcon.

Best ultimately got back on the track ahead of the final lap, but finished the race 16th out of a possible 17 competitors.

Though disappointed with the result, Best had to quickly turn things around in race two if he had a chance of salvaging his weekend.

“I knew it would be hard, I had to start at the back,” Best said.

“But each position gained is a point, and I needed as many points back as I could from Queensland."

Responding to the challenge, Best came out flying, ultimately fighting his way back to finish race two in a more respectable fourth.

“I had a really good start. I passed 10 cars on that first lap,” Best said.

“I just kept chasing cars down in front of me.”

And in a strong finish to the weekend, Best took out the final race on Sunday, taking the lead on lap seven, which was a position he would ultimately never lose.

Along with the win, Best said he was happy to finally finish a final race after his unfortunate streak of late, but said his victory had been no easy task.

“I had to start sixth," Best said.

"And it started raining half way though.

"There was rain at turn one, nothing in the middle and rain at the last two turns.

"It meant earlier breaking, and you had to be more cautious.

“It was kind of unknown, the track kept changing every lap, and I was the first one there."

While it is mathematically possible for Best to take out the Championship when the Series heads to Sandown Raceway, Victoria next month for its final round, Best conceded it would be a rough road ahead of him.

“It’ll be tough, but we can only do as much as we can,” he said.

“You can only go out there and win races.

“And hopefully we’ll get poll position.”

Best sits 73 points behind leader Broc Feeney ahead of Sandown, which will see 143 points up for grabs.