PRACTICE ONE TIME: 10:00-10:30 CONDITIONS: Sunny, mild, windy FINISHED: 9th - 1:13.0395 FASTEST: Cameron Waters - 1:12.5033
PRACTICE TWO TIME: 11:20-11:50 CONDITIONS: Sunny, mild, strong winds FINISHED: 22nd - 1:13.0957 FASTEST: Cameron Waters - 1:12.2954
QUALIFYING – RACE 19 TIME: 12:45-13:45 CONDITIONS: Sunny, mild, strong winds FINISHED: 12th - 1:12.5694 FASTEST: Jamie Whincup - 1:12.0248
TIME: 15:40 CONDITIONS: Sunny, mild, strong winds FINISHED: 23rd WINNER: Jamie Whincup
From the beautiful – but windy – Townsville it was time to go racing again! Just 5 sets of soft tyres for the weekend, so strategy was once again key to a successful weekend. A fresh new livery for the team and a solid qualifying session, Todd and the Team Black Duck Commodore starting the first race of the weekend from a very promising p12 – despite a niggling engine issue causing some concern. Sadly all hell broke loose at the start and Todd became one of the casualties. It all happened on lap one when the cars bunched up at the slow entry to turn two. Todd was right in the middle of a Supercar sandwich between van Gisbergen and Fullwood. When SVG received a hit he barrelled into the Black Duck Commodore, which then hit Fullwood, before briefly launching itself into the air and then finally hitting the wall. Unfortunately the rear suspension was significantly damaged and the car was in the garage at the end of lap one. It took seven laps to get the car back out on track but sadly Todd was soon back in the pits when the engine started to misfire. The Black Duck Commodore did get back out – many laps down – but it was a very disappointing finish to a race that held so much promise. Time to look forward to tomorrow and two big races!
“Another up and down one for us today. I was feeling strong in practice and the car had good pace. We made big improvements in both practice sessions and in part one of quali but unfortunately that’s where my luck ended today. I just missed out on part two of quali which also meant the shootout due to some engine difficulties. That was disappointing as we should’ve been in that shootout. And my race...well I don’t really know what to say. I got caught in the lap one pile up and sustained a far bit of damage plus had engine issues so unfortunately had to retire. I’m pretty gutted! One to forget and we’ll get the car sorted overnight and come back strong tomorrow to get Team Black Duck up there.”
COMING UP SUNDAY 30TH AUGUST 10:40-10:50 | Qualifying – Race 20 11:00-11:10 | Qualifying – Race 21 13:05 |Race 20 / 39 Laps 15:40 | Race 21 / 39 Laps |