TRACK TIMES
QUALIFYING – RACE 20
TIME: 10:40-10:50
CONDITIONS: Mild, windy, overcast
FINISHED: 9th - 1:12.5392
POLE POSITION: Jamie Whincup - 1:12.3105
QUALIFYING – RACE 21
TIME: 11:00-11:10
CONDITIONS: Mild, windy, sprinkling of rain
FINISHED: 3rd - 1:12.2225
POLE POSITION: Scott McLaughlin - 1:12.1793
RACE 20 / 39 Laps
TIME: 13:05
CONDITIONS: Mild, overcast, windy
FINISHED: 6th
WINNER: Jamie Whincup
RECAP
After an engine change overnight it was straight into qualifying on Sunday – Nick grabbing p9 for race 20. Car #8 was straight up to seventh on lap one, continuing the great run of starts for Nick and the R&J Batteries Commodore.
It was a strong first phase, as we’ve become accustomed to from Nick before pitting early on lap 12 for four tyres – in super fast BJR style. The strategy now was to look after the rubber for that long stint to the flag. Up to fifth after everyone made their compulsory stop, the run home was tough with worn tyres but Nick managed them well, losing only a single position to van Gisbergen on much fresher tyres. In the last three laps Nick beautifully held off series leader McLaughlin and crossed the line in a solid sixth.
RACE 21 / 39 Laps
TIME: 15:40
CONDITIONS: Mild, sunny, windy
FINISHED: 4th
WINNER: Scott McLaughlin
RECAP
A change in conditions during qualifying for race 21 with a sprinkling of rain putting pressure on the drivers to get a clean lap. Thankfully Nick was up to the challenge with a fantastic third place on the grid. It got better at the start, with Nick forcefully taking second off Waters on the first lap before conceding the position back to the Mustang driver one lap later.
Car #8 held third comfortably until hitting the pits relatively early on lap 16, heading out with four fresh tyres. After everyone took their compulsory stops Nick was comfortably inside the top 10, sitting in fourth with 10 laps to go, behind Jamie Whincup who jumped car #8 after only putting on two rear tyres.
It was a relatively quiet final run home to the flag, Nick and the R&J Batteries Commodore crossing the line in a strong p4.
THE WORD FROM NICK
“A huge thank you to all the guys and girls that worked tirelessly overnight getting my engine change done. A massive effort from the team! We came out strong in quali with a P3 which is my equal best quali result for the season, so I was stoked with that result. The car was really fast.
Car #8 wasn’t perfect in the first race. It wasn’t bad on a stint but it overheated the front tyres a little bit and made it hard to keep Scotty behind but we did it in the end.
We were definitely in for a podium in that last race but Whincup came in late and only took on two tyres to my four so that’s where he got me at the end. I had a fast, competitive, car so a big thanks to AE (Engineer, Andrew Edwards) and the team. We’re proving race after race that we are a strong team now and unfortunately it was a bittersweet ending not getting on that podium but I’m really happy with the huge progress we are making. Round after round we’re coming out strong, so we’ll continue working on strategy and get set for another round here next weekend.
Thank you to R&J Batteries for their support and all our partners. It was a big weekend and their continued support along with all the fans on and off track doesn’t go unnoticed.”
COMING UP
Townsville SuperSprint
Reid Park Street Circuit
5th- 6th September
