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With just a handful of points between the two coming into the final race, Paddon only needed to finish fifth or better if Cutts were to win the race to clinch the series title.
The First Focus GWR Australia driver and Arise Racing-backed youngster had been in close contention all year, putting everything on the line to bring the series to a head in the final race of the year.
Cutts would indeed win race two, however, a fourth place-finish for Paddon in Sunday’s race was more than enough to seal the deal for the #31 First Focus driver with a final margin of only 10 points between the two.
Sweeping the weekend during his first outing at Mount Panorama, Cutts claimed the round win, ahead of Bryce Moore/Chris Reindler and Paddon in second and third.
Cutts got the jump off the line, but Hunt swept across and took the lead coming into the first corner, relegating Cutts back to second with Paddon just behind as the field took its first run up the mountain.
The three front runners settled into a rhythm, setting a decent margin back to Justin Tigani and Bart Mawer in fourth and fifth before Warwick Morris found himself in the gravel, triggering an early Safety Car intervention.
Hunt led the field at the restart, ahead of Cutts and Paddon and with the mandatory pit stop window open Hunt, Paddon, and Mawer all dove in early, with Cutts opting to stay out for another lap to take advantage of the clean air.
As the field cycled through their stops, Cutts emerged from pit lane as the race leader. With all stops complete and driver changes complete, Paddon was running in third, with Cutts nine seconds clear.