Hodge Dominates Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge with Start to Finish Win

VICTORIA,AUSTRALIA – Marc 15,2013: Former Australian Test Cricketer Brad Hodge maintained his qualifying form when he drove his 2.2 litre diesel Mazda6 to a start to finish win in the first Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge race at the 2013 Formula 1Ž Rolex Australian Grand Prix today.

Hodge capitalised on mistakes made by Sir Chris Hoy and Jonathan LaPaglia, helping him edge away on the second lap and take the exciting race by an impressive 11.3 seconds.

It was a battle of the Underbelly stars for the remaining places on the podium, with Underbelly: Badness actor Jonathan LaPaglia just beating Jared Daperis - who will play Squizzy in the next crime drama.

Scottish cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, who was headed for a podium result early, surprised the field when he went wide at turn three and got bogged in the sand. The exciting session had plenty of bumper-to-bumper action, with Mark Beretta engaging in a few tussles in an attempt to get higher on the grid for tomorrows race.

Anna Meares continued to dominate the women coming in sixth place, ahead of Kate Peck in 11th and Em Rusciano who finished 12th.

The Mazda6 Celebrity Challenge continues tomorrow with the second race of the weekend.