The 2021 Boost Mobile Super Trucks season is officially underway.
The first of three races in the Tasmania SuperSprint weekend at Symmons Plains Raceway took place on Saturday, and Paul Morris was on point when he took the lead on the final green flag en route to his first SST win since 2017.
Paul Weel was the fastest in practice and qualifying earlier in the day, and a field inversion meant he started Race #1 at the back of the grid. Morris started on the pole in the truck of his son Nash, who missed the race due to back pain during qualifying, though he retained his usual #67. With the younger Morris out, Shae Davies assumed his Boost Mobile livery but kept his #88.
As Morris led the opening lap, Davies’s throttle cable snapped while landing off the second ramp and ended his race. It was a rough Saturday for Davies who only performed two practice laps after an awkward landing on his nose in the session. Shaun Richardson took second with a move in the turn four hairpin, a tactic that would become a recurring theme throughout the day.
Weel took the lead on lap two, which led to a battle between Morris and Richardson for second. On lap five with the competition caution looming, Richardson attempted a move on Weel via the outside line in the hairpin but failed. By the yellow, Weel led Richardson, Morris, and Dave Casey.
The race resumed on lap seven with Weel and Richardson continuing their battle. Prior to the lap’s conclusion, Morris rode on two wheels through a kerb and had to skip a ramp, while Richardson tried the hairpin pass on the inside and succeeded. However, he lost the position after two-wheeling and missing the first ramp a lap later.
Contact between Richardson and Morris on lap ten enabled Weel to slip by as the final competition yellow flag was waved. Although Weel pulled ahead early at the lap 11 restart, Morris utilised the draft to his advantage to catch up.
As the final lap began, Morris missed the first ramp but was not penalised as he did not gain a position. At the hairpin, he successfully overtook Weel on the inside. Despite facing pressure from Weel and Richardson, Morris kept them at bay to score his fourth career win and first since Perth Race #3 during his 2017 championship season.
Richardson slipped by Weel to take second, while Casey finished his SST début in fourth. It is Richardson’s best SST run and his first podium since he finished third in Race #2 at Gold Coast in 2016.
“Good Race,” Morris posted on Instagram. “Looked after the Brakes and dropped the hammer with 2 to go.”
“What a fantastic day, early start with a amazing sunrise, followed by a 3rd in Qualifying and then had a great battle to finish 2nd,” Richardson wrote on Facebook, “hopefully my radios work tomorow and we can get on that top step on the podium, big shout out to all my sponsors none of this would be possible with out your support. A BIG shout out to all the mechanics and crew for giving me a awsome truck”.
Weel scored his first career podium after coming close in his début at Adelaide last year. He shared on his Instagram, “We made a show of it @ssupertrucksau race 1 lead most of the race but ended up 3rd. Great battle with @paulthedudemorris always great racing side by side and well done on the win.”
Casey wrote, “Had a blast today. Learning a lot. Two more races tomorrow and try keep up with the front.”
“Not our day today…! A few problems in each session dovetailed with a snapped throttle cable in Race 1,” wrote Davies. “Onwards & upwards tomorrow!”
Race results
| Finish | Number | Driver | Laps Completed | Total Points Earned | Status |
| 1 | 67 | Paul Morris | 13 | 12 | Running |
| 2 | 12 | Shaun Richardson | 13 | 11 | Running |
| 3 | 50 | Paul Weel | 13 | 11* | Running |
| 4 | 121 | Dave Casey | 13 | 9 | Running |
| 5 | 88 | Shae Davies | 0 | 8 | Throttle Cable |
| DNS | 94 | Nash Morris | 0 | 0 | Did Not Start |
