TRACK TIMES
QUALIFYING – RACE 20
TIME: 10:40-10:50
CONDITIONS: Mild, windy, overcast
FINISHED: 17th - 1:12.7889
POLE POSITION: Jamie Whincup - 1:12.3105
QUALIFYING – RACE 21
TIME: 11:00-11:10
CONDITIONS: Mild, windy, sprinkling of rain
FINISHED: 5th - 1:12.2792
POLE POSITION: Scott McLaughlin - 1:12.1793
RACE 20 / 39 Laps
TIME: 13:05
CONDITIONS: Mild, overcast, windy
FINISHED: 13th
WINNER: Jamie Whincup
RECAP
After the horror day yesterday when the Black Duck Commodore was caught up in a first lap accident and then succumbed to an engine problem, it was a relief to find that car #14 was back up to speed for the Sunday morning quali sessions.
From 17th on the grid Todd held station at the start amidst the bumping and barging of the midfield. Playing the long game with a late pitstop meant Todd was in to the pits for fresh rubber late in the race – with only 15 laps remaining. Back out in p18 the Black Duck Commodore now had, as commentator Neil Crompton often says, a ‘grip birthday’ and used it wisely picking off car after car in the latter stages to cross the line in p13.
RACE 21 / 39 Laps
TIME: 15:40
CONDITIONS: Mild, overcast, windy
FINISHED: 5th
WINNER: Scott McLaughlin
RECAP
With a sprinkling of rain the pressure was on to get a good lap in and Todd did just that, getting the Black Duck Commodore up to a brilliant p5 for race 21. Aggressive off the start Todd held position comfortably inside the top 10, where car #14 belongs! As others pitted, Todd stayed out, pitting late on lap 24 for four tyres, heading back out in p10 and in a great position to attack in the latter stages of the race. After everyone made their stops Todd was back in fifth behind teammate Percat in the R&J Batteries Commodore. It wasn’t over yet though, with Scott Pye putting pressure on car #14. Todd drove beautifully though to bring the Black Duck Commodore home in that solid fifth position. A great return to form after some terrible luck for Team Black Duck in recent weeks.
THE WORD FROM TODD
“Really solid end to what started out as a tough weekend so really happy to come away with P5 as equally my second-best result in Supercars. Really good turnaround for the team. Super happy for all the team and Black Duck as we have had a tough few races so to be rewarded with a top 5 is awesome. We’ll be back here next weekend so have a lot to build on and work with during the week so we’re on the front foot when we go again next Saturday.
Big shout out to all the crew for their hard work. We nailed strategy all day today in both races and I had a fast car. We’ll go again next week and get the duck up the top again!”
COMING UP
Townsville SuperSprint
Reid Park Street Circuit
5th- 6th September
