Hi to all you V8 Supercars fans around the world.
On the weekend of the 16th – 18th of September 2016 was the start of the Endurance season.
Wilson Security Sandown 500.
This is one of my favourite races and Dad and I have been attending for the past 5 years. Dad picked up our car from Freedom Motors on the Wednesday and we left early on the Thursday morning heading for Melbourne (or as my mum says Mexico – you know south of the border). Arriving at the Ibis Hotel at around 4pm and settling in before going to have dinner…
In Melbourne on the Friday at the racetrack I got photos taken with Josh Kean, Lee Holdsworth, Karl Reindler, Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes, Steven Richards, Shane Van Gisbergen and Alex Premat the only 1 I didn’t get a photo with on that day was Paul Dumbrell because he was getting ready for a Dunlop Series Qualifying. I caught up and got a photo with one of the Legends of Australian Motorsport Larry Perkins. Aaron Noonan I got a photo with Paul Dumbrell on the Sunday also got a photo taken with Craig Baird who is the Co-Driver for David Reynolds. Also got a photo with Chris Jewell who is Renee Gracie’s Manager.
Aaron is the V8 Sleuth. https://www.facebook.com/v8sleuth/?fref=ts http://
www.v8sleuth.com.au/
Let’s go retro – that was the theme for this year’s event.
I saw the Red Bull Racing Australia team go Retro with their white Suits. I saw Mark Larkham and Matt White walk passed us because they were busy so I didn’t get a chance to get a photo with them this year. I was shaking my head at the crowd because they were getting in the way of the Triple 8 boys. Going from the truck back to the Garage.
The V8 TV Crew talk about going Retro Glenn (Minty) Mintern, Cameron Van Den Dungen, and Becky Lamb all went Retro. I also saw Russell Ingall, Mark Skaife, Allan Moffatt and John Harvey they all went Retro. Teams going Retro Dick Johnson Racing Team Penske used the Shell Helix Livery from back in 2003 the 2nd DJR car also went Retro with the Mighty Mite Livery with the number 66 on that Ford Falcon. Chaz went to Steve Ellery’s Livery from back in 2002. And Matt Naulty who is a Commentator went Retro as well.
Because this was an endurance race I thought I would include what happened during the practice events. This one is for the Co-drivers.
In race for the grid 1 Steve Owen started on pole position alongside him was Paul Dumbrell for the 20 laps.
On lap 1 Paul Dumbrell got the jump and led the through turns 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the first of 20 laps. Dean Canto spun Tony Dalberto around and Steven Richards went off the track to avoid hitting him. Craig Baird went off the track and onto the grass at turn 4 by himself.
On lap 2 the co-drivers were settling down into a race pace. The cars up front were pulling away, while the cars up the back were pushing their way through the pack.
On lap 3 Paul Dumbrell was controlling the race with ease. Tim Schenken had announced that Dean Canto was going to get a drive thru penalty for a driving infringement on lap 4 he was leading with handy margin over the cars behind. Matt Campbell was at the back of that pack of cars.
On lap 5 the replay showed that Tony D’Alberto was spun by Dean Canto and Steve Richards only just missed him.
On lap 6 Paul Dumbrell had a 1.3 second lead.
In the middle of the race Warren Luff was putting pressure on Luke Youlden for 3rd spot.
Towards the end of the race Chris Van der Drift went off the track down at turn 9 Dandenong Road. In the end no one could catch Paul.
Results for race for the grid 1.
1st – Paul Dumbrell – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2nd – Steve Owen – Supercheap Auto Racing.
3rd – Warren Luff – Holden Racing Team.
This one is for the main drivers
In race for the grid 2 Jamie Whincup started on pole position alongside him was Chaz Mostert for this 20 lap race.
On lap 1 Jamie Whincup got the jump off the line and to the first turn, Cameron Waters was bogged in the mud down at turn 2. There was a safety car on the opening lap to remove Cam Waters car from the mud. Chaz Mostert had contact with James Moffatt.
On lap 2 everyone slowed down to get in behind the Safety car.
On lap 3 the cars were still behind the safety car the restart was on lap 5, Garth was right in Jamie’s wheel tracks.
On lap 6 Will Davison was following his former teammate Garth Tander, Scott McLaughlin got down the inside of him down at turn 1. At the start of lap 6 Fabain Coulthard was pressuring Will Davison into making a mistake.
On lap 7 Garth Tander was right up in behind Jamie Whincup.
On lap 8 Shane Van Gisbergen got a bit too much exit oversteer.
On lap 9 Will Davison just opened the steering ever so slightly just to make sure there was no contact.
In the middle of the race the drivers were settling down for the run to the finish.
In the end no could catch Jamie Whincup.
Results for race for the grid 2.
1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2nd – Garth Tander – Holden Racing Team.
3rd – Scott McLaughlin – Volvo Polstar Racing Garry Rogers Motorsport.
The Main Event
The Wilson Security Sandown 500
This event starts with the Co-Drivers in place.
Paul Dumbrell started on pole position alongside him was Warren Luff for the 161 lap race.
On lap 1 Warren got the jump and Paul Dumbrell dropped through the pack. James Golding had a right front tyre go down at the end of the back straight as a result the race had to be red flagged.
The race was restarted on lap 7, there was water on the track between turns 1 and 2. Jack Perkins had a run at Alex Premat, Warren Luff just pulled away, straight away.
On lap 8 David Wall was chasing Warren Luff for the race lead. Steven Richards was under pressure from Aaron Russell. Warren Luff still had the lead of the race over David Wall.
On lap 9 Ash Walsh was being put under pressure by Paul Dumbrell the battle was on for 3rd and 4th.
On lap 10 Steve Owen was chasing down the drivers ahead of him. He tried to get passed during the opening laps but wasn’t to be.
On lap 11 David Wall was under pressure from Ash Walsh, but wasn’t able to get close enough to make the pass. Cameron Mcconville was putting the pressure on the back of Aaron Russell. Russell Ingall was behind Cameron Waters.
On lap 12 the co-drivers were keeping the cars straight with no damage to hand them back over to the main drivers.
On lap 13 Alex Premat had pressure on him from Jack Perkins. Paul Dumbrell was making sure that the Freightliner Holden didn’t get too far up the road – meaning get too far away.
On lap 14 Paul Dumbrell got passed Ash Walsh turn 1. The Red Bull Racing Australia Team Manager, Mark Dutton felt like he was getting held up. (That was reported by Greg Rust.) Dean Canto did the new fastest lap of the race in 15th place. The next Target for Paul Dumbrell, to move further forward was David Wall in the Volvo s60.
On lap 15 Steven Richards spun due to the wet and slippery curbs at turn 3. When he got going again the wheels just spun because there was no grip on the wet grass. Ludo came on the radio and said to him nice and smooth. Then richo’s said sorry about that.
On lap 16 the Enforcer (Russell Ingall) backed the Nissan Altama car 15 out of the tyres at turn 4.
On lap 17 Russell Ingall had smoke coming from the left hand side of that car as a result of contact with the tyres.
On lap 18 Rick Kelly was chatting with Greg Murphy and telling if him if Russell Ingall pitted they would go a lap down and it would be very hard to get that lap back.
On lap 19 Matt Campbell was getting crossed up. Dean Fiore and Luke Youlden were battling for positions 8 and 9.
On lap 20 Dean Canto had to follow Luke Youlden after being in front for the first couple of laps.
In the middle of the race Jamie Whincup had to serve a pit lane penalty due to Paul Dumbrell not taking his seat belt off the right way. Then Tim Slade got pinged as well for moving before his belt was clipped in properly.
Towards the end of the race Garth Tander’s left hand side mud guard just nearly came off and the Officials did not give car 2 a Mechanical black flag to come in get fixed.
Due to the weather and being so cold dad and I made an executive decision to return to our hotel and watched the race from the warmth of our room. Dad and I had already been pretty sick with the dreaded lurgy.
Results for the Wilson Security Sandown 500.
1st – Garth Tander and Warren Luff – Holden Racing Team.
2nd – Shane Van Gisbergen and Alex Premat – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3rd – Will Davison and Jonathon Webb. – Tekno Auto Sports.
The next event will be the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, 6th – 9th of October 2016 the Bathurst Channel will start on Foxtel 506 Monday the 3rd of October 2016.