From the start of 2010, DHR set its sights on becoming the country’s most formidable Production Sports Car team, going up against Australia’s most prolific Prodsports talents to wrestle for the CUE One Hour Production Sports championship.

While the overall championship is yet to be decided, class 2F laurels have – and with one round still to go, Ash Miller and Team DHR are CUE One Hour Champions for the class.

Fighting against an incredibly saturated wad of driving talent at Morgan Park last weekend, Ash Miller and co-driver Geoff Marsh faced the most challenging field seen in the championship so far, with 35 entrants vying for class and overall honours. With the drivers races showcasing DHR’s mixed weather pace, signs were good for the One Hour feature.

“We’ve been lucky with the weather here, it played right into our hands,” said Miller.

“But if the race tomorrow is dry, we’ll have more of a fight on our hands. There are one or two guys that we don’t usually have competing in the One Hour championship that I know are lightning quick, and we’ll have to be on our toes to really get the most out of the car.”

Come Sunday the weather indeed fined up, and the temperatures were soaring as the cars lined up for the start of the One Hour spectacle.

Miller was in the drivers seat for the start, tussling with David Barram’s NC MX5 for the first few laps – Barram proving that the latest Mazda incarnation can be a very wide car indeed.

“The opening laps were hectic, and we knew we had the pace to be in front of David – but there’s no denying he knows how to defend his position!”

After managing to find a way around, Miller’s opening stint was spent going blow-for-blow with local boy Russell Schloss, whose pace around the Morgan Park circuit threw down DHR’s biggest challenge of the weekend. Having slipped by after Miller’s tussle with Barram, Miller and Schloss traded quickest laps as the pair raced nose-to-tail, pulling well clear of the other 2F runners.

“I was pushing pretty hard to stay in touch with Russell – the traffic was something that didn’t help, I’d get up to the back of Russell, then get held up.”

Handing over the reigns to Geoff Marsh at the 35 minute mark, a lightning stop and a series of quick laps by Miller before coming in saw Marsh exit the pits on the tail of Schloss once again. With Schloss choosing to complete the One Hour on his own, his pace was hard to match.

“He was comfortable in the car, and for those first few laps while Geoff got settled in, Russell used it to his advantage. Not being in the Championship though, we just needed points, and we weren’t too concerned.”

However, a late-race charge by Ash Lowe in the NC made for a final-lap thriller, as Lowe made up the deficit to pull onto the tail of Marsh as the pair started their final lap. With the final few kilometres fought in Gladiator-like proportions, Lowe just slipped by into 2nd, giving Marsh 3rd place at the chequered flag.

“I struggled with the tyres and ended up having a couple of moments during my stint,” Marsh said afterwards.

“Late in the race, when I saw Ash (Lowe) coming in the mirrors, I pushed as hard as I could, and did everything I knew to keep him behind me, but he found a way past right at the end. We’ve still bagged a handful of points, and it’s been enough to wrap up the series for us, so although I’m a little disappointed at not keeping second, I’m thrilled for us for claiming the 2F crown!”

DHR finished 13th overall, galvanising their giant-killing reputation. With points from the drivers races included, DHR not only seal the 2F category, but they also extend their gap over third place in the overall series standings.

“We’ve had such a great weekend, and I’m stoked at how hard the team have worked this year,” Miller said.

“They really deserve every bit of success coming our way, and where we sit in the overall championship is a reflection of that. I really must thank Errol Davidson, Graham Miller, John, Joey and Kylie Bayly, Gary Stewart, Ray Stewart and everyone else who has been involved in preparing such in an immaculate little MX5. I can’t wait to head down and face off with everyone again at Phillip Island!”

Phillip Island is indeed the scene of the next and final CUE One Hour series race. A circuit notorious with changeable weather and fast, sweeping corners, DHR will no doubt be on form once again.

However, it’s the Mazda MX5 Nationals that calls for DHR’s immediate focus. Taking place at Wakefield park during the last weekend of October, it brings together the cream of Mazda MX5 drivers from around the country for their second annual gathering.

“We’re out to improve on our third place from last year – we know it won’t be easy, seeing the pace of Ash (Lowe) and Russell (Schloss) over the Morgan Park weekend. But I’m ready to tackle the circuit.”

Dark Horse Racing last turned a wheel at Wakefield during the latter stages of 2007, making it quite a while between drinks for the Brisbane squad. On that occasion, Miller scored impressive results against a similar field of entrants for the Festival or Sports Cars gathering. Can he go better in 2010?

“Of course, we have it in us, but everything has to be perfect. Of that, I know we can do,” Miller mused.

With Miller competing in the Australian Irish Dancing Championships as we speak, his focus is shifted from wheels to jigs; but come late October, he and DHR will be back on track.

Morgan Park video highlights to come soon!

Stay tuned.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARSTA PHOTOGRAPHY – www.marsta.com