Hi to all you V8 followers around the world.
This weekend 20th November – 22nd November is the WD 40 Phillip Island Supersprint.
Last year dad and I traveled down to Phillip Island for the big race… We had a V6 engine in the Kia we hired from Freedom Motors Australia… Not quite a V8, but it was fun to have a faster car than the one we left at home… We were privileged enough to be at the back of the garage from practice to the races and be able to watch it on the screens from there… As you can see from some of my photos, I am in my own V8 wheelchair and sometimes it’s difficult to see past people who get in front of me. Dad does his best to make sure I can see what is going on, just doesn’t always work… We also had fun meeting everyone and getting autographs and photos. I have quite a collection now… I am not there this year, but next year 2016, I will be back…
In 2014 the race was called Plus Fitness Phillip Island 400 and this year it’s the WD40 Phillip Island 400. Now we can have a look at the excitement of last year’s races.
In race 33 Scott McLaughlin started on pole position alongside him was Craig Lowndes. On lap 1 of 23 Scott McLaughlin led the field the down to turn 1, Craig Lowndes tried to go around the outside of him, but he had to pull the nose back out. One of Dick Johnson’s cars driven by Scott Pye locked up in the back ground. Jamie Whincup was following his teammate trying to find a way to get passed him.
On lap 2 the cars were settling down into a race pace. While the leaders were pulling away. Scott McLaughlin was keeping the pack in check and kept the lead. Mark Winterbottom was chasing down Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds tried to pass Jason Bright at turn 4, while Nick Percat, Will Davison and Tim Slade were trying to get around the outside to gain pace at the Hay shed.
On lap 3 Todd Kelly was battling with Scott Pye and Rick Kelly. Mark Winterbottom ran wide at turn 1, which allowed Jamie Whincup and Chaz Mostert to pass him. Mark Winterbottom then had to go for a pit stop to remove some grass from his front grill, to avoid an issue of overheating…
Meanwhile Scott McLaughlin was being hunted down by the Red Bull boys, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes. Lee Holdsworth was doing battle with Shane Van Gisbergen…
But in the long run and as much as Craig Lowndes was putting pressure on him, Scott McLaughlin, led from start to finish.
Let’s watch the video…
Results for race 33
1st – Scott McLaughlin – Volvo Polstar Racing.
2nd – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3rd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
In race 34 Jamie Whincup started on pole position alongside Mark Winterbottom on lap 1 of 23. Mark Winterbottom got the jump off the start and led for the first couple of turns, Scott McLaughlin and Nick Percat were side by side through turn 3. Will Davison tried to go around the outside of Chaz Mostert but then Scott McLaughlin had to fan the throttle and pull back in behind Michael Caruso.
On lap 2 David Reynolds was a bit sideways coming onto the front straight. But he managed to save the slide and keep in front of Rick Kelly at turn 2 on that same lap he managed to get passed him, and hold position. Rick Kelly was very happy with the move that David Reynolds put on him so tried to get his spot back at turn 4. But he was on the wrong side of the track to maintain the spot. James Courtney was following Will Davison and Nick Percat going side by side through the hayshed.
On lap 3 Todd Kelly and Garth Tander were fighting it out for the same spots but Garth Tander had to relinquish that spot to Todd Kelly. But Garth Tander wasn’t going to give it up easily going down to the MG corner, Todd Kelly gave Garth Tander a bit of a helping hand. Which nearly open the door for Michael Caruso and Scott McLaughlin to have a look.
On lap 4 Jack Perkins ran off the track at the last turn. And re-joined near turn 1, in-between turns 1 and 2 on the same lap Jamie Whincup passed Mark Winterbottom to the race lead. And Craig Lowndes was there in case the front 2 cars made a slight mistake then Craig Lowndes would have gone from 3rd to 1st Craig Lowndes got passed at turn 4 during the opening stages.
At the half way mark there was a battle going on between Will Davison Shane Van Gisbergen and Scott Pye. Lee Holdsworth and Tim Slade came together down the bottom of MG corner. Towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup was just cruising out in front.
Results for race 34
1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2nd – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3rd – Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance racing.
In race 35 Jamie Whincup started on pole position alongside Scott McLaughlin. On lap 1 of 45, Jamie Whincup, Scott McLaughlin and Garth Tander were all trying to take the lead on the turn and Jamie Whincup and Garth Tander did the bump as Scott McLaughlin took the lead and Jamie Whincup went from first to third.
On lap 2, (while this doesn’t make sense to a novice) a number of cars came into the pit lane including Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes to complete the first of their two compulsory pit stops.
On lap 3 the front runners had stayed out on track to avoid any double stacking behind the car that was still running around on the track until the 2nd team car had been serviced. Like for example Craig was the first of the 2 Red Bull Racing Australia cars to pit, so that Jamie Whincup didn’t have to stack behind car 888.
Results for race 35
1st – Scott Mclaughlin – Volvo Polstar racing.
2nd – Garth Tander – Holden Racing Team.
3rd – Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance Racing.
Will Nick Percat get over his foot injury in time for this week’s races? Dean Canto will be replacing Ash Walsh at Erebus Motorsport, Karl Reindler is waiting on standby just in case Nick Percat is not fit enough to race this weekend at Phillip Island after he suffered an injury to his right foot, Chris Pither will be replacing Andre Heimgartner at Superblack racing in car 111. Will Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport need to get Karl Reindler to step up as a replacment for Nick Percat this weekend? This week is event 13. The King of the Island Craig Lowndes has 9 wins will he make it 10?
This is race week the 2nd last event for 2015. To join the conversation https://twitter.com/v8supercars during the live and Exclusively live on fox sports 5 channel 506 use the hashtag which is #v8sc that is the twitter page to join the conversation.
Both Foxsports and channel ten will have the Coverage this weekend that starts on Friday at 12pm. on Fox sports 5, Saturday 10am and Sunday it starts at 10am as well. The commentators 12 months ago were Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife. The pit reporters were Mark Beretta Mark Larkham and Riana Crehan, the commentators this weekend will be Greg Rust and Neil Crompton the pit reporters will be Greg Murphy and Riana Crehan.