The green machine completed 14 laps in the 20 minute qualifying session. Pitting twice with green tyres going on at the second stop, a 1.11.1618 put #55 in 22nd position for race two of the round.
'I am happy with 22nd and again there isn't even 1 second between the 29 car field'.
Tipping 32 degrees outside and 48 degrees in the cabin, the 65 lap race saw a clean start by #55 but soon got tangled up in the mad dash through the first few corners, with 3 wide into the corners. The biff and barge continued for several laps, then eased as pit lane opened and people started peeling in.
One of the last cars to do their first pit stop, the Bottle - O Commodore was in second position before coming in to for fuel and rear tyres only, to rejoin in 19th, before again coming in on lap 43 for soft tyres and fuel, coming out in 25th with 21 laps remaining.
Carving through the field T.D battled with Murphy and McConville who were also of soft tyres, to soon pass Murphy to be in 18th and soon 17th by passing Kelly.
With two laps remaining in the race a mechanical failure forced #55 out of the race, retiring to the grass at turn one resulting in a DNF.
'We were so close to the finish its frustrating. We had some good battles throughout the race. The heat was draining and it took its toll on me as it did alot of drivers. The car was a handful to drive, it demanded all of my attention mentally and physically'.
The next race is at Phillip Island on September 11 to 13 for the first of our endurance races.
Last Modified on 28/08/2009 10:25