The
TMR Performance Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X RS of Stuart Kostera has
dominated the opening round of the five-round 2011 Australian
Manufacturers Championship at Phillip Island Raceway, despite a raft of
enforced changes for the new season.

Qualifying
on pole and winning both 20-lap races in the 2010 championship-winning
West Evo X, Kostera also set a fastest lap time of 1m:48.0sec around the
Victorian circuit. Dominating from the start, he built a 2.8 second
lead on lap one of race one, temporarily surrendering the lead for the
compulsory pit stop, eventually winning by over 50 seconds.

Fending attacks by the fast front-wheel drives of Jake Camilleri (Mazda3

MPS)
and Ryan McLeod (HSV VXR), and the Evo 9 of Jim Pollicina, who claimed
third in race two. Forced to reduce turbo boost pressure to bring the
Evo X back to the field, Kostera pushed hard but also conserved his
tyres, a vital aspect of the Phillip Island course. Running 0.1 bar less
boost, his fastest lap time was 1.1 seconds slower than 2010, but it
was still enough to dominate the round, including winning race two by a
solid 27 seconds.

The round victory
continues the run of success for Kostera and TMR, who have won every
round of the AMC since round 2 in 2010. The grid returns to Phillip
Island on May 27-29 for round two, a six-hour enduro, before turning to
Morgan Park, Sandown and Eastern Creek.

2011 AMC points (after rd 1): Kostera 122, Camilleri 77, R McLeod 75, Pollicina 53, G McLeod 45.