It was Macrow and Blake Purdie that battled for the lead on the opening lap. Macrow made a brilliant start from the second row to grab the lead into the first corner, only for Purdie to slide past at Honda later in the first lap.
Purdie's lead, however, was short-lived, the teenager running wide on the exit of Turn 1 on the second lap before firing off the road on the way into Southern Loop.
