Hi to all you Supercars Fans around the world!
On the weekend of June 18 to 20, 2021 was the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway.
It was an exciting weekend that I had been looking forward to. Not just because Hidden Valley is a fast track but also the last event at Winton was cancelled due to COVID lockdowns. So it’s been a while since the last race.
Neil Crompton was not in Darwin last weekend because he was recovering from prostate cancer surgery. Crompo, we are all praying for you and wish you a speedy recovery.
In other news, Chaz Mostert has signed a new multi year deal with Walkinshaw Andretti United until the end of 2023. This puts an end to the speculations that he may be replacing Jamie Whincup in 2022 at the Red Bull Ampol Racing Team alongside Shane Van Gisbergen.
Also last weekend it was confirmed that Thomas Randle will make his full-time debut in 2022 with Tickford Racing under a 4th Rec – Racing Entitlements Contract.
The weekend’s event was underway as scheduled. In the pre-race sessions it was a mix of results:
- Nick Percat was fastest in Practice 1
- Jamie Whincup was fastest in Practice 2
- Anton de Pasquale was fastest in Qualifying for race 12.
In race 12 Anton De Pasquale started on pole position with Mark Winterbottom alongside him.
As the race got underway things immediately went wrong and by turn 1 there was a 6 car pileup.
Mark Winterbottom lost power and went wide to avoid being a hinderance. Shane Van Gisbergen managed to sweep down the inside of Anton de Pasquale to take the lead. Anton de Pasquale turned in tight clipping Shane Van Gisbergen’s back wheel. It slowed Pasquale, changing his driving line and Scott Pye ended up in his behind spinning him round. As this brought them to a halt in the middle of the turn, others came to join the ‘pile up party’; Including Todd Hazelwod, Jack Smith, Fabian Couthard, Garry Jacobson. It was utter mayhem and the safety car had to be deployed to clean up the mess. Garry Jackobson was the only one able to continue the race. The others were out with NC (Not Complete).
When the race went back to green Shane Van Gisbergen was leading the race.
Jamie Whincup came in early to find some clear air and not get caught up in traffic. The leaders stayed out until lap 5.
Will Davison was the remaining Dick Johnson Racing car after the retirement of car 11 driven by Anton de Pasquale. De Pasquale’s car looked such a mess I was thinking that they wouldn’t be able to repair car overnight, but somehow they did.
In the middle of the race Shane Van Gisbergen’s was on target for another race win in 2021 but it was a day of mishaps. When he came in for the pit stop the team couldn’t get the wheel nut undone, so instead of the stop being a 3 or 4 seconds it ended up being a 30 seconds. They delay cost him the race lead and win. After looking so strong he finished in 13th position.
The race lead was now in the hands of Cheeky Chaz Mostert. His experience and great driving made it impossible for anyone else to catch him before he crossed the finish line first.
Results for Race 12
1st Chaz Mostert – Walkinshaw Andretti United
2nd Cameron Waters – Tickford Racing
3rd Nick Percat – Brad Jones Racing
In race 13 Will Davison started on pole position. Alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen. The last time Will Davison started on pole position was 2014 at Homebush Sydney Olympic park.
David Reynolds qualified 21st for race 13 which he wasn’t happy with because he wanted to be further up but it didn’t work out.
At the start of the race Shane Van Gisbergen got the jump and led into turn 1. The cars further back in the pack came in early to get track position.
Nick Percat who qualified to start in 10 position wanted to repeat his podium finish achieved on Saturday. His driving throughout the race was more aggressive than usual but his experience means he knows what he is doing and poses less risk than most. Unfortunately for him it was a tough race and only managed to gain one place by the finish.
The Red Bull cars which qualified well, Shane Van Gisbergen started 2nd and Jamie Whincup started 6th on the grid, stayed out longer because they had track position. It paid off for both of them.
In the middle of the race Shane Van Gisbergen was back at the front. Soon after his teammate, Jamie Whincup had moved up from 6th to 3rd. Will Davison was holding onto 2nd position and was proving a tough nut to crack for Jamie Whincup to make the result 1st and 2nd for Triple 888 Racing..
The three drivers kept their position and proved impossible for anyone else to catch them. They also finished the race in that order; Shane Van Gisbergen, Will Davison and Jamie Whincup.
Results for Race 13
1st Shane Van Gisbergen – Red Bull Ampol Racing Team
2nd Will Davison – Dick Johnson Racing
3rd Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Ampol Racing Team
4th Chaz Mostert – Walkinshaw Andretti United
In race 14, the third and final race for the weekend it was again Will Davison whi started on pole position. Alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen.
Shane van Gisbergen went around the outside at turn 1 and in the process kept the lead which I wasn’t surprised with at all.
The cars further back in the pack came in to get track position and stay out of the hot air from the cars in front of them.
As the pit stops started taking place the leaders stayed to keep their positions.
Jamie Whincup was happy about having a good performance in Darwin with a 2nd and 3rd finish in the previous races..
In the middle of the race Shane Van Gisbergen was the leader of and looking like winning the race comfortably.
The series season leader Shane Van Gisbergen showed why he was the series champ to date and drove faultlessly to the finish line with more than a two second lead over Will Davison and Jamie Whincup in thrid. Shane Van Gisbergen now leads the championship by 221 points.
Results for Race 14
1st Shane Van Gisbergen – Red Bull Ampol Racing Team
2nd Will Davison – Dick Johnson Racing
3rd Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Ampol Racing Team
Social media reacts to Mostert WAU contract extension – Supercars
Randle confirmed for 2022 full-time Supercars seat – Speedcafe
The next event is the NTI Townsville 500 on the 9th to the 11th of July 2021.