TRACK TIMES
QUALIFYING – RACE 26
TIME: 9:20-9:30
CONDITIONS: Sunny, dry
FINISHED: 10th - 1:48.7792
POLE POSITION: Scott McLaughlin - 1:48.0726
QUALIFYING – RACE 27
TIME: 9:40-9:50
CONDITIONS: Sunny, dry
FINISHED: 5th - 1:48.2929
POLE POSITION: Scott McLaughlin - 1:47.8280
RACE 26 / 24 LAPS
TIME: 11:55
CONDITIONS: Sunny, dry
FINISHED: 9th
WINNER: Shane van Gisbergen
RECAP
After yesterday’s tyre dramas there were a lot of question marks over the first race at The Bend. At least the conditions improved, with blazing sunshine greeting teams on Sunday. From 10th on the grid Nick immediately grabbed two places and held fast to a train of cars led by van Gisbergen at the front. It was clear that tyre management was foremost in the minds of all the drivers on the long 4.95km circuit. In relatively late on lap 13 for rear tyres only, car #8 was perfectly placed for a strong run to the finish against cars that pitted early.
Nick and the R&J Batteries Supercar made short work of Mostert, Kelly and Coulthard, sitting in p5 until the last few laps, when the tyres started to degrade on #8 and Nick’s pace faded as the blistered rears massively affected performance. Gamely holding on, the R&J Batteries Commodore crossed the line in p9.
RACE 27 / 24 LAPS
TIME: 14:25
CONDITIONS: Sunny, dry
FINISHED: 17th
WINNER: Scott McLaughlin
RECAP
From fifth on the grid and with some changes made to the R&J Batteries Supercar to preserve those tyres, Nick was aggressive right from the start, grabbing fourth on lap one and therefore keeping well clear of some midfield chaos. In the early laps it was clear that car #8 had strong pace, as Nick put significant pressure on Mostert for third before pitting early on lap eight for rear tyres.
Now the challenge was to keep those rear tyres alive for the rest of the race - no mean feat today! In the final phase of the race the tyres really started to suffer under the extreme load and temperature, an issue affecting most of the field, and Nick was forced to nurse the R&J Batteries Commodore to the finish and p13.
THE WORD FROM NICK
“Disappointing day for us especially after the great results and improvements we’ve been making. Tyre deg just killed both my races but especially the second race. We originally planned to run long but that changed as my rears started to go so we had to pit. That made it a huge stint to come home too and I had nothing left in them by the end.
A tough weekend but we’ll look at what needs to be changed in the set-up to try and help the deg here. Thanks to the support this weekend, it’s always nice to be back racing in my home state so I’m looking forward to turning it around for next weekend”.
COMING UP
OTR SuperSprint The Bend
Tailem Bend, SA
26th- 27th September
