MW Motorsport proved its credentials as a front-runner in this year’s Dunlop Series with a strong showing at Barbagallo Raceway.

The weekend was highlighted by a first career pole position for Chris Pither and a maiden podium for Jack Le Brocq.

Boosted by a productive pre-event test at Winton, drivers Pither, Le Brocq and Simon Evans all showed improved form from the opening round in Adelaide.

Pither bounced back from an electrical problem in the opening practice to end Friday as the fastest man, before again underlining his pace with pole position the following day.

Scoring second in each of the opening two races to Cameron Waters, a weekend podium narrowly eluded the Ice Break Ford in the final.

Pither had been holding onto fifth position when he was spun by Paul Morris on the penultimate lap, dropping the Kiwi to 22nd in the race and fourth in the round.

Le Brocq trailed his team-mate home third in the opening two heats before clinching second for the weekend with a fourth place result in Race 3.

Evans also showed promise with an impressive sixth in qualifying for just his second Dunlop Series event and first ever visit to Barbagallo.

The reigning NZ SuperTourer champion went on to chalk up solid 13th, 12th and 11th place race results and end the weekend 11th.

Team owner Matthew White left the event pleased with the progress made by his team in the early part of the year.

“Coming from where we were in Adelaide we’ve stepped our program up significantly,” said White.

“We’ve got three new drivers this year and you’re always going to be weakest at your first round just from an engineering standpoint of understanding each other.

“The team came very close to a double podium with Chris and Jack, who showed they’ll both be strong contenders throughout the season.

“Running new tyres in the first two races was the best way to maximise our overall weekend and unfortunately Chris just couldn’t hang on in that final heat.

“We’ve got a little bit of work to do on our tyre life before Winton but we’ll head there confident based on the speed we showed across the weekend.”

Le Brocq and Pither sit third and fourth respectively in the series standings following Barbagallo, with Evans 14th.

The season continues at MW Motorsport’s home track, Winton Motor Raceway, on May 15-17.