Flat-out in the V8 Supercars

Shane van Gisbergen (above) and Scott McLaughlin (below) had time in front at Bathurst, but came to grief. Pictures / Mark Horsburgh

Action-packed schedule puts heavy load on cars and drivers

The drivers in the V8 Supercars championship have barely had time to draw breath between the Bathurst 1000 and the Gold Coast 600 this weekend.

The second round of the series within a series, the Pirtek Enduro Cup, was two weeks ago, and some teams - especially Erebus and the Holden Racing teams - had to work frantically to repair their wrecked cars.

This year's Bathurst 1000 has shot to the top of the best races list after a frenetic second half of the race that included the track breaking up, drivers pinging off walls, crashes, fluffed pit stops and Jamie Whincup running out of fuel while leading on the last lap.

Despite limping home in fifth, the Red Bull Racing Australia driver still leads the series from Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes.

Some drivers, including the three Kiwis in the top eight, will be hoping to make amends for some schoolboy errors at Mount Panorama.

Scott McLaughlin leading the field at Bathurst.

Best of the New Zealanders, Shane van Gisbergen (fourth) stalled his car in the pits while leading with 11 laps to go, Fabian Coulthard (sixth) locked a wheel and had to pit and Scott Mclaughlin (eighth), clipped a wall while handily placed to pounce, also had to pit.

"That was so gutting, but you have to move on," said van Gisbergen.

"It was good that the car had great speed and we're hoping it'll be there this weekend.
"Jono [co-driver Jonathan Webb] has been really quick and we're really gelling now. He's been quick in the car and is feeling really comfortable with it. He did a good job at Bathurst and he's had a couple of podiums at the Gold Coast [when he was a full-time V8 Supercars driver] so we should go all right.

"We've got to get some good points this weekend, and while we want to win the thing, we also have to be mindful of getting as many points as possible with a straight car. It's a pretty good little track for a street circuit and, which is unusual for a street circuit, it has some passing spots."

Results didn't go Coulthard's way on the Mountain, but he and the team can take heart from setting the fastest-ever lap time in a V8 Supercar and take some consolation in finishing inside the top 10 in ninth.

Fabian Coulthard.

Coulthard is confident as he gets ready for today's qualifying and race one. His Lockwood Racing Holden has been at the front of the field all season when racing on soft tyres, which are the designated compound for this weekend.

"The car should be good on the soft tyre," said Coulthard. "They've also made some alterations to the chicanes, which should make things interesting because it won't be as much of a free for all as it has been." He and co-driver Luke Youlden were quick last year, finishing second in the Sunday race, and are looking to grab a few more points in this year's event.

McLaughlin, the third Kiwi in the pack, will definitely have to "give it the jandal" over the two days as Chase Mostert has closed up on the points table after winning his first Bathurst 1000 with veteran racer Paul Morris.

The Volvo pilot and co-driver Alex Premat led the race for the majority of the first half until the red flag came out, and were looking good for at least a podium finish.

But McLaughlin had an altercation with the wall after the restart requiring the car to pit, and crossed the line 17th.

"That was a really big disappointment for me, but that was the last race and we can't dwell on it," said McLaughlin.

"It's a good thing that we can get on with it so soon after Bathurst and try to find a bit of redemption. Basically this weekend I have to put everything behind me and get as many points as I can and move on.

"The Gold Coast hasn't been Alex's favourite track, but hopefully we can sort that out this weekend. For me, though, I love street circuits and in particular the Gold Coast event.

"It'll be a bit different this year - a few parts of the track have been resurfaced, which will make passing a bit more interesting and you might be able to make a few aggressive moves.

"But the place is hard on brakes and you have to be a bit careful that you've saved some towards the end of the race."

The Kiwis will have their work cut out this weekend. The race weekend has been dominated over the past 10 years by Triple Eight Race Engineering, Walkinshaw Racing and Ford Performance Racing.

The last team outside these three to win was PWR Racing in 2005 with Greg Murphy at the wheel. The veteran Kiwi V8 racer will be starting his 200th Australian Touring Car Championship/V8 Supercar Championship round this weekend and will be only the tenth driver to do so.

Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell still lead the race for the Pirtek Enduro Cup - the award given for the best-performed combination in the endurance races - with Mostert and Morris second with James Courtney and Murphy third.

Only three drivers, Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom and Shane van Gisbergen, have finished all the 30 races held so far in this year's championship.

But the Gold Coast 600 is one of the more action-packed events on the calendar and there's sure to be plenty of that action this weekend.