Motorsport: Bittersweet finish on Bathurst track

Rotorua's Ant Pedersen drove well at Bathurst on Sunday to help his Super Black Racing team finish 11th.

Rotorua driver Ant Pedersen is happy with his team's performance at Bathurst, but believes they could have finished inside the top 10.

Pedersen and fellow Kiwi driver Andre Heimgartner finished 11th at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 on Sunday, on Mount Panorama in Australia, driving for Super Black Racing.

Super Black Racing received a wild card entry into Bathurst this year and they exceeded most people's expectations by finishing 11th.

During an interview after the race, which was posted on the Super Black Racing Facebook page, Pedersen said they had achieved their main goal.

"It was a good day for us, we got the car home in one piece and we finished the race.

"So big boxes ticked, but when you are sitting in a really strong position - top-five, top-six - to run shy with fuel is really, really frustrating.

"So a bit bittersweet, pleased with getting [the car] home, but a bit frustrated as well."

Team Super Black Racing were in the top 10 for long periods of the race on Sunday but had a fuelling problem, which cost them a couple of places.

"We were good for a top-10 easy, potentially a top-five. We will take comfort from that but at the same time it is a bitter pill to swallow."

The eventful race on Sunday threw a lot at the drivers, with plenty of crashes during the day and a long stoppage to repair the track.

"It just shows the place can throw up so many random variables, I am just really pleased we were able to bring the car home and do our team - Super Black - strong."

Pedersen and Heimgartner have been racing in the Dunlop Series this year, the development series for the V8 Supercars Championship in Australia. They were selected as the Kiwi pairing to drive for Super Black Racing, at Bathurst, earlier this year.

Pedersen is originally from Rotorua but is currently based in Hamilton, where he works full time as an accountant.

Ford's Chaz Mostert won Bathurst 1000 after passing Jamie Whincup on the final lap on Sunday.