HI to all you v8 Supercars fans around the world.
On the weekend of the 4th – 6th December 2015 was the Coates Hire Sydney 500
This year dad and I stayed at the Novotel again, it’s one of our favourite hotels… They look after us very well, this year they tried to put us on the 14th floor, but the bathroom was too small for my wheelchair, so they went out of their way to find a room that was wheelchair friendly. We ended up on the 7th floor and had a great view of the track.
In race 34 Mark Winterbottom started on pole position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen, as Craig Lowndes was after the championship, but due to hitting the wall in qualifying, he has to start at the back of the pack. On lap 1 of 37 Mark Winterbottom got the jump into turn 1. James Moffatt had right front steering damage as a result of contact with Jason Bright. Rick Kelly got squeezed by Tim Slade and Garth Tander.
On lap 4 Frosty still had the lead, meanwhile Craig Lowndes was still coming through the pack. Then Shane Van Gisbergen took the race lead.
On lap 5 when Shane Van Gisbergen pulled off into the pits Mark Winterbottom took over the race lead again, then James Courtney took over the when Frosty had pulled off into the pits the race lead had changed again James Courtney took the lead. On departure Jamie Whincup got out in front of Shane Van Gisbergen.
On lap 6 Rick Kelly was chasing Garth Tander on lap 7 both James Courtney and Jason Bright made there pit stop.
In the middle of the race Steve Owen was holding Craig Lowndes behind.
Riana Crehan and Greg Murphy were chatting with Tim Edwards and Mark Dutton about their chances at winning the championship. Towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup was out in front. And running away with opening race. That first race win for Jamie Whincup took his career tally up to 95.
Results for race 34
1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – Shane Van GISBERGEN – Tekno Autosporrts
3rd – Jason Bright – Team BOC
In race 35 Jamie Whincup started from the pole position alongside him was David Reynolds. On lap 1 of 37 Jamie Whincup led the field down to turn 1 for the first of 37 laps. There was contact between Fabain Coulthard and Todd Kelly.
On lap 2 Craig Lowndes was back in the pack trying to move forward passing Scott Pye, but he couldn’t get the move done at turns 2, 3 and 4. But Craig Lowndes managed to pass him at turn 5; his next car to pass was Lee Holdsworth.
On lap 3 Shane Van Gisbergen got swamped as he was chasing James Courtney in.
On lap 4 Lee Holdsworth was being chased by Scott Pye.
In the middle of the race all the pit stops had been completed towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup was again in the right position to make it 2 from 2.
Results for race 35
1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – David Reynolds – Rod Nash Racing
3rd – Mark Winterbottom – Pepsi Max Crew
Today my mate Jesse Ellis and his dad joined us to watch the race… It was so nice to have a like-minded friend to share the experience with.
In race 36 James Courtney started on pole Position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen. On 1 of 74 James Courtney led at the start of the 36th and final race of 2015, Jamie Whincup and Mark Winterbottom started on the 2nd row of the grid. Towards the end of the opening lap Shane Van Gisbergen was trying to pass James Courtney, but that didn’t work. At the final turn James Courtney got tagged by Shane Van Gisbergen in the left rear quarter panel.
On lap 2 James Courntey was still the race leader and Frosty was running 3rd. Jason Bright was the first of the Brad Jones Racing Cars to make a pitstop. David Reynolds passed Rick Kelly in between turns 9 and 10. Tim Slade was sitting behind them just in case one of the cars ahead of him made a mistake.
On lap 3 Shane Van Gisbergen was trying take control of the race but he couldn’t until James Courtney let him pass.
On lap 4 Shane Van Gisbergen was still putting pressure on the Holden Racing Team car, and then Shane Van Gisbergen spun James Courtney around in between turns 9 and 10. As a result he didn’t get a drive thru for that incident. Then James Courtney had smoke coming out of the right rear guard.
On lap 5 Scott McLaughlin was right behind the outgoing champ in Jamie Whincup, at turns 9 and 10. Jamie Whincup just pulled straight away.
On lap 6 Scott Pye saw the damage on the back of the 22 car. McLaughlin made a move at turn 1, which would give him the racing line for turns 2, 3 and 4. David Reynolds was following the HRT car. Craig Lowndes was following Fabain Coulthard, Tim Slade hit the wall on approach to the final turn which triggered a safety car and a flurry of activity in the pits while the Safety car was out, Nissan Motorsport had to put the pit boom back in place.
The restart was on lap 15. In the middle of the race Shane Van Gisbergen was still leading with Jamie Whincup hunting him down.
Towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup couldn’t pass Shane Van Gisbergen.
Results for race 36
1st – Shane Van Gisbergen – Tekno Autosports
2nd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
3rd – Rick Kelly – Jack Daniels Racing
Well done to everybody on a great 2015 V8 Supercars championship season. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year, see you in 2016.
Will Grant McPherson be the race engineer for on car 888 in 2016 For Team Vortek?
Jamie Whincup will go back to the car No. 88 which he has not had since 2011.
Shane Van Gisbergen will have 97 under the Red Bull banner and next year will be the first time that Craig Lowndes will have his own car. But he will be sharing a pit Boom with Tekno. Because Triple 8 race engineering are going to be going to 3 cars.