SEASON OPENER - SWEENY HOME IN 8TH AT SYDNEY - RACE 1
Blanchard Racing Team Super Spill and Safety Solutions Cooldrive Auto Parts driver Bailey Sweeny has come through with a solid 8th position finish from 20 cars in Race 1, during Round 1 of the 2026 Dunlop Super2 Series at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Previously Sweeny had finished Practice on Day 1 in as high as 4th position and at one stage in qualifying, Sweeny made it the second BRT 1-2 in as many days as he jumped to second, as the timing screens lit up with just shy of eight minutes remaining.
The Batemans Bay local had earlier produced a qualifying time of 1:01.234 to be just 0.16 of a second off pole sitter Zak Best, the narrow margin time putting put him 7th overall for the start of the race.
Half an hour before the session, officials announced that the first Boost Mobile Qualifying session of the year - and then subsequently the race itself - would be held on the Druitt configuration, owing to track repairs at Turn 8 on the full layout.
After qualifying was held on the Druitt Circuit, the decision was made to also run Race 1 on the shorter layout, marking the first time Super2 have raced on the Druitt variant.
That meant there would be upwards of 30 laps if the race ran green throughout, with the weather continuing to threaten before the lights went out, the track declared wet pre-race as a precaution.
Sweeny had his hands full with a race long battle against former Australian Formula Ford champion Matt Hillyer for the final top 7 position, eventually getting pipped by a mere one tenth of a second.
The race was won by BJR driver Brad Vaughan.
The 2026 Dunlop Super2 Series continues with Race 2 Qualifying expected at 9.55am local time on Sunday and then Race 2 to follow at 2.40pm.
BRT driver Bailey Sweeny is seen in his Mustang