Winterbottom sweeps up in Konica finale.

Stone Brothers Racing's Mark Winterbottom grabbed yet another round title in the sixth and final outing of the 2003 Konica V8 Supercar Series, sweeping all three race wins at Mallala Motorsport Park.

Winterbottom was the man on top all day, even making his way up twenty positions in the reversed grid second outing, and convincingly taking third race honours ahead of Gulf Western Oil's Matthew White and Hydraulink Racing's Mark Porter. The three drivers conveniently finished in the same order as they stood for the overall 2003 championship. Winterbottom finished off the Konica V8 Supercar Series by claiming five pole positions, four of which were in a row, four round wins and eight race wins
- an impressive record for a driver in his first ever V8 Supercar season.

"It can't get more enjoyable than three race wins," the 22-year old admitted, "We had speed all weekend and, with the championship all wrapped up, it was easier to take more risks in the reverse grid race than usual.

"It was a great effort to finish the season on a high and I am going to dedicate the win to Howard Marsden, who recently passed away with cancer. He got me through karts and to where I am today so, without his assistance, I don't think I would be standing where I am today."

The day did not however run as smoothly for some other drivers. Smiths Truck's Owen Kelly's run for third position overall for the championship was put to a halt in race one, after he was shunted early in the race by Super Cheap Auto Racing's Luke Youlden. Youlden, a rival for the third overall spot, finished the race in second position, but was soon relegated to nineteenth after a steward's inquiry imposed a 19-second penalty for the incident.

Kelly's misfortune continued towards the end of the first race when he was tapped off the track by Holden Young Lion's driver Tony D'Alberto and slammed the Smith Trucks Commodore VT into the wall before turn one, ending the any chances to participate in the remainder of the day.

Winterbottom went onto win the first race five seconds ahead of White, who suffered throttle difficulties that resulted in the engine cutting out randomly, and Brad Jones Racing's Andrew Jones.

Jones' good luck from the last round at Winton Motor Raceway earlier this month and in taking third position in race one, was ended in race two, when mechanical difficulties put a stop to his race on only the second lap. The third race was more impressive for the Albury-based driver, however, as he finished fourth behind the top three championship drivers.

The tight Mallala circuit had taken its toll by the third and final race. Kelly, Actron Air's Kevin Mundy and local South Australian team 3M's Peter Gazzard all failed to take the grid for the start of the last race. Youlden's Falcon AU managed to recover from an incident that put him out of the second race, and started the race from pit lane.

Dick Johnson Racing's Warren Luff's first appearance in the Konica V8 Supercar Series also proved impressive after the weekend, finishing the round just out of the top three in fourth position. The three races today giving him valuable track time for the upcoming V8 Supercar endurance events at the Betta Electrical 500 Sandown and the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst, where he will be co-driving with Shell Helix Racing's Steven Johnson.

The Konica V8 Supercar Series will hold the Konica V8 Supercar Challenge at the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst on 9-12 October, in what will be a non-championship event for the category.

Race results - Mallala:

Race One

1. Mark Winterbottom Falcon AU 19 laps
2. Matthew White Falcon AU
3. Andrew Jones Falcon AU
4. Mark Porter Commodore VX
5. Warren Luff Falcon AU
6. Peter Gazzard Falcon AU
7. Dale Brede Commodore VX
8. Steve Owen Commodore VX
9. Brett Peters Falcon AU
10. Robert Jones Commodore VX

Race Two - reverse grid

1. Mark Winterbottom Falcon AU 18 laps
2. Adam Wallis Falcon AU
3. Todd Wanless Falcon AU
4. Terry Wyhoon Falcon AU
5. Tony D'Alberto Falcon AU
6. Warren Luff Falcon AU
7. Mark Porter Commodore VX
8. Matthew White Falcon AU
9. Robert Jones Commodore VX
10. Steve Owen Commodore VX

Race Three

1. Mark Winterbottom Falcon AU 28 laps
2. Matthew White Falcon AU
3. Mark Porter Commodore VX
4. Andrew Jones Falcon AU
5. Warren Luff Falcon AU
6. Dale Brede Commodore VX
7. Brett Peters Falcon AU
8. Tony D'Alberto Commodore VX
9. Robert Jones Commodore VX
10. Luke Youlden Falcon AU

Series points standings:

1. Mark Winterbottom 922pts
2. Matthew White 864pts
3. Mark Porter 780pts
4. Brett Peters 718pts
5. Luke Youlden 688pts
6. Dale Brede 680pts
= Owen Kelly 680pts
8. Peter Gazzard 658pts
9. Craig Bastian 626pts
10. Kevin Mundy 612pts