ANDREW Miedecke has opened up an early lead in the Enzed Touring Car Masters Series after winning two races in the opening round at Adelaide over the weekend.
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Miedecke won races one and three on the Clipsal 500 weekend in the Pro Masters Class.
He qualified second on the grid for the first race, before seeing off John Bowe on the first lap.
The Port Macquarie driver fought his way through the field after the reverse grid start to the second race. He had moved from 16th to seventh before a safety car interrupted.
The safety car was involved again in race three, and officials decided to add an extra lap for racers.
It left one lap of competitive racing after the safety car left the track, and Miedecke held off Gavin Bullas to take the chequered flag.
Miedecke said Bullas didn't get near enough to him to have a go at passing.
"I didn't give him the opportunity," he said. "When the flag drops you've got to put the hammer down."
The two wins set Miedecke up nicely for the rest of the year. He's 11 points ahead of second-placed Bullas with 168 points.
Miedecke rates Jim Richards and Bowe as his main title contenders. Richards has 133 points while Bowe languishes behind with just 90.
"I've opened up a fair old margin over them," Miedecke said.
Dry conditions made for quick racing. The street circuit is slightly shorter than in the days when the city hosted the Australian Grand Prix formula one race.
Miedecke has a soft spot for the course: "I love street circuits. They suit my style of racing."
The series will move to Symmons Plains Raceway near Launceston for round two from March 27-29.
There are then races at Winton in Victoria, Hidden Valley (Northern Territory), Queensland Raceway, Sydney Motorsport Park, Bathurst and Phillip Island.
