Chris Lewis-Williams finished off his 2023, 944 Challenge Series Campaign at the Philip Island Circuit on Sunday, November 26.
Lewis-Williams started the Island Magic round on Saturday, November 25, by qualifying second for race one, only behind former series winner Jamie Westaway.
Mechanical issues pained Westaway, giving the Rose City racer a shot at the top spot, but Cameron Beller, the second-best driver in 2023, surged through the leading pack to claim the top spot.
In race two, it looked like Beller was once again going to take the spoils, but an engine failure on lap two brought his race to an early end.
The Benalla driver was once again destined to be the bridesmaid and never the bride around Philip Island as Adam Brewer led the race following the safety car and crossed the finish line ahead of Lewis-Williams.
The last race of the season was arguably the season’s best.
The heavens opened as the race got under way and the leading pack of Beller, Brewer, Mark Verdino, Emanuel Mezzasalma and Jared Campione all had premature ends to the season.
After receiving a grid penalty after race two saw Lewis-Williams start at the back of the grid, the rain played perfectly into his hands.
The Benalla driver charged through the pack, with drivers falling around him.
He was on the gearbox of Philip Island specialist Westaway in the dying stages of the race, but the young gun held on.
Westaway claimed the feature race at Island Magic for the third year in a row.
The Baron of Benalla’s trio of second-place finishes saw the driver finish third overall for the round behind Westaway and Joey Kellock.
In terms of the final 944 Challenge series standings, Lewis-Williams finished with 447 points, 32 points clear of Beller.
The two drivers now have four championships each to their names, no driver has ever claimed five.
With round one of the 2024 series kicking into gear on February 16 at Sandown Motor Raceway, it will not be long until Beller and the Baron of Benalla are battling for a place in the history books.
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