| The Holden Racing Team has made a solid recovery after yesterday’s disappointing race results, with both cars finishing in the top twelve in this today’s showcase 70-lap race at the Hidden Valley circuit in Darwin.
The final of day of racing consisted of one practice session before qualifying and the 200km finale. James Courtney qualified inside the top ten in 7th, however teammate Tander struggled to find the optimum set up and (despite being just four tenths behind James in this session) his car qualified 23rd.
The start of Race 15 lacked the push and shove of yesterday’s racing with a clean start and no major incidents unfolding. Tander had an impressive opening lap jumping up three places, then continued to work his way up to 16th over the first few laps. Meanwhile Courtney was ferociously protecting his position and held strong in 7th.
Both HRT cars opted for the same tyre compound strategies adopting a soft-hard-soft plan. Tander was the first of the team’s cars to pit on lap 11 and just seven laps later, Courtney was in for fresh rubber and fuel too. There was a flurry of activity in pit lane with most other cars coming on the same lap and as a result Courtney lost track position to Percat. After all cars had made their first round of stops Courtney was sitting in 8th and Tander just outside the top ten in 12th.
The second round of stops for the HRT team came consecutively on laps 34 and 35 and from there it was a race to the chequered flag. Tander’s drive was impressive- up eleven places to finish in 12th. Courtney finished where he started in 7th.
The team will now head back to base in Melbourne to prepare for the next event – the Townsville 400 – in just three weeks’ time.
Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 15: 23rd
Race 13 Result: 12th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:07.3793
James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 15: 7th
Race 13 Result: 7th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:07.3596 |
