V8 Supercars News
iPhone App For Clipsal 500 Adelaide Fans
8:26 AM Wed 2 March, 2011
Race fans can download the new Clipsal 500 Adelaide App FREE from the App Store to ensure they don’t miss any of the action at Australia’s largest domestic motor sport event.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide App features driver and team information, dynamic practice, qualifying, and race results, the latest race program, official Clipsal 500 Adelaide and V8 Supercar driver tweets.
The app also features an interactive track map with GPS icons that lead you easily to locate facilities at the circuit ranging from bars and toilets to food outlets and ATM machines.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide App also contains special competitions that can only be entered from your iPhone, for fans who attend this year’s event:
Track down the Clipsal 500 Adelaide grid girl over the four days of the event using the augmented reality feature, jump in next to her and snap your photo and submit to be in the draw to win 2 x Double Trackside Super Passes to the 2012 Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
Submit pictures of your family and friends at the event and vote for the best pic to win great Clipsal 500 Adelaide prizes.
The 2011 Clipsal 500 Adelaide will be held from March 17-20.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide App features driver and team information, dynamic practice, qualifying, and race results, the latest race program, official Clipsal 500 Adelaide and V8 Supercar driver tweets.
The app also features an interactive track map with GPS icons that lead you easily to locate facilities at the circuit ranging from bars and toilets to food outlets and ATM machines.
The Clipsal 500 Adelaide App also contains special competitions that can only be entered from your iPhone, for fans who attend this year’s event:
Track down the Clipsal 500 Adelaide grid girl over the four days of the event using the augmented reality feature, jump in next to her and snap your photo and submit to be in the draw to win 2 x Double Trackside Super Passes to the 2012 Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
Submit pictures of your family and friends at the event and vote for the best pic to win great Clipsal 500 Adelaide prizes.
The 2011 Clipsal 500 Adelaide will be held from March 17-20.
Tander: It Isn’t Over Until December
11:14 PM Tue 1 March, 2011
Toll Holden Racing Team ace Garth Tander says that despite being 21st in the V8 Supercars Championship after another disastrous event in Abu Dhabi, he’s far from out of the race for the title.
The reigning victor of the Clipsal 500, Tander sits 177 points behind points leader Jamie Whincup, which strangely enough is an improvement over last year when he trailed the Vodafone Holden pilot by a massive 273 points after Abu Dhabi and was 28th overall.
“I’m actually far better than last year, a whole six or seven spots in the championship!” joked Tander, the 2007 V8 Supercar champion.
“One weekend doesn’t make a championship. Last year Jamie dominated the first four races and didn’t go on to win the championship, so every year has its own story. Whether we are part of that story, only time will tell.
“No one can stay up for a full season. What the story of 2011 is, you only learn over time.
“We feel we’ve improved the base package of the car, there’s improvements in the organisation, whether that’s enough to bear fruit by December we’ll have to wait and see, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.”
Tander dominated last year’s Clipsal 500, winning both 250-kilometre races for Toll HRT, but the man who finished runner-up, James Courtney, is now his teammate and he expects the reigning champion to again be strong as well as Whincup.
“Adelaide was good last year, a fantastic weekend. We’ll try and go back there with some confidence but we also realise Jamie was very, very strong and just got caught up in a few things and made a few key errors at key times.
“James was very strong there last year in his Falcon so whether that translates to the Commodore we’ll have to wait and see, but traditionally he goes well there.
“We’re not going there thinking it’s easy, there’s work to be done.”
The last race held in Abu Dhabi last month turned into something of a fuel economy race between Courtney and Jason Bright, an element Tander is only too aware of in terms of its relevance to Clipsal success.
“I think the fuel race adds a degree of excitement too. Last year we won in Adelaide doing two stops and being tight on fuel whereas James did three and had plenty of fuel at the end.
“Whether the strategy storyline extends to the fans in the grandstand or watching at home is something we have to be careful of too.
“Everyone wants to see cracking racing and that’s something Adelaide generally turns on regardless of strategies.”
Tander and the rest of the 27 drivers in the V8 Supercars Championship will hit the track in Adelaide for first practice in 15 days time.
The reigning victor of the Clipsal 500, Tander sits 177 points behind points leader Jamie Whincup, which strangely enough is an improvement over last year when he trailed the Vodafone Holden pilot by a massive 273 points after Abu Dhabi and was 28th overall.
“I’m actually far better than last year, a whole six or seven spots in the championship!” joked Tander, the 2007 V8 Supercar champion.
“One weekend doesn’t make a championship. Last year Jamie dominated the first four races and didn’t go on to win the championship, so every year has its own story. Whether we are part of that story, only time will tell.
“No one can stay up for a full season. What the story of 2011 is, you only learn over time.
“We feel we’ve improved the base package of the car, there’s improvements in the organisation, whether that’s enough to bear fruit by December we’ll have to wait and see, but it won’t be for a lack of trying.”
Tander dominated last year’s Clipsal 500, winning both 250-kilometre races for Toll HRT, but the man who finished runner-up, James Courtney, is now his teammate and he expects the reigning champion to again be strong as well as Whincup.
“Adelaide was good last year, a fantastic weekend. We’ll try and go back there with some confidence but we also realise Jamie was very, very strong and just got caught up in a few things and made a few key errors at key times.
“James was very strong there last year in his Falcon so whether that translates to the Commodore we’ll have to wait and see, but traditionally he goes well there.
“We’re not going there thinking it’s easy, there’s work to be done.”
The last race held in Abu Dhabi last month turned into something of a fuel economy race between Courtney and Jason Bright, an element Tander is only too aware of in terms of its relevance to Clipsal success.
“I think the fuel race adds a degree of excitement too. Last year we won in Adelaide doing two stops and being tight on fuel whereas James did three and had plenty of fuel at the end.
“Whether the strategy storyline extends to the fans in the grandstand or watching at home is something we have to be careful of too.
“Everyone wants to see cracking racing and that’s something Adelaide generally turns on regardless of strategies.”
Tander and the rest of the 27 drivers in the V8 Supercars Championship will hit the track in Adelaide for first practice in 15 days time.
Caruso: Hard Work Of 2010 Is Paying Off
2:49 PM Tue 1 March, 2011
Fujitsu Racing/GRM’s Michael Caruso credits the hard work by his engineering team in the second half of 2010 for his strongest start ever to the V8 Supercars Championship.
Caruso sits sixth in the championship, courtesy of his 15th and fifth placed race finishes at the season opener Yas V8 400 in Abu Dhabi.
"To be sixth in the driver's championship in front of guys like Lowndes, Courtney and Tander is a great way to begin a new championship,” said Caruso.
“It’s a lot different for me to go into the second event in such a strong position.
In past years I’ve found myself on the back foot in the early stages of the championship and my focus has always been on getting back up the order.
“This year the focus is consolidating a position inside the top five - it’s a much better place to be!”
Now in his fourth full season with the Garry Rogers Motorsport squad, Caruso says his new partnership with engineer Steven Todkill has helped enormously.
“Steve took over the role as my engineer in the last half of the season and he has really made a difference,” Caruso told BigPond Sport.
“He understands what I like … I can give him some information about how the car is handling and without having to give him to much detail he always seems to give me the car setup that I need.”
Caruso says he can’t wait to return to Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 street race - not surprising considering he finished both of last year’s 250 km races inside the top 10.
“In my opinion Clipsal is a tougher event than the Telstra Sydney 500 because it doesn’t matter how much you train, nothing can simulate race fitness, and you can only get that by getting miles in the car.
“It’s such a hard event. The conditions are usually hot, there are typically a lot of safety cars and the strategy changes so much throughout the race.
“I think we’re ready to be consistently challenging for podiums. We worked hard in the back half of last year and I believe that will pay off this season.”
Caruso has recently launched his new official website, with plenty of features including a members only section that allows fans to get the latest downloads, special offers and merchandise.
Caruso sits sixth in the championship, courtesy of his 15th and fifth placed race finishes at the season opener Yas V8 400 in Abu Dhabi.
"To be sixth in the driver's championship in front of guys like Lowndes, Courtney and Tander is a great way to begin a new championship,” said Caruso.
“It’s a lot different for me to go into the second event in such a strong position.
In past years I’ve found myself on the back foot in the early stages of the championship and my focus has always been on getting back up the order.
“This year the focus is consolidating a position inside the top five - it’s a much better place to be!”
Now in his fourth full season with the Garry Rogers Motorsport squad, Caruso says his new partnership with engineer Steven Todkill has helped enormously.
“Steve took over the role as my engineer in the last half of the season and he has really made a difference,” Caruso told BigPond Sport.
“He understands what I like … I can give him some information about how the car is handling and without having to give him to much detail he always seems to give me the car setup that I need.”
Caruso says he can’t wait to return to Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 street race - not surprising considering he finished both of last year’s 250 km races inside the top 10.
“In my opinion Clipsal is a tougher event than the Telstra Sydney 500 because it doesn’t matter how much you train, nothing can simulate race fitness, and you can only get that by getting miles in the car.
“It’s such a hard event. The conditions are usually hot, there are typically a lot of safety cars and the strategy changes so much throughout the race.
“I think we’re ready to be consistently challenging for podiums. We worked hard in the back half of last year and I believe that will pay off this season.”
Caruso has recently launched his new official website, with plenty of features including a members only section that allows fans to get the latest downloads, special offers and merchandise.
Soft Dunlop Tyres For Albert Park 400
7:30 AM Tue 1 March, 2011
The Dunlop Soft tyre option will be in play for V8 Supercars at the Albert Park 400 as part of the Formula 1 QANTAS Australian Grand Prix.
Each driver will have three sets of the softer tyres to use across the three races, with two sets of new regular Hard tyres.
It’s the first time the softer tyre has been used at Albert Park and throws another curve ball into the mix with a $500,000 prize pool up for grabs.
Team BOC’s Jason Bargwanna says the soft tyre will increase the spectacle of V8 Supercar racing at Albert Park.
“That track is traditionally hard on tyres anyway so there should be quite a big difference between the lap times on hard and soft tyres,” he told BigPond Sport.
“The racing on soft tyres has been fantastic over the last 12 months or so, so I think it means we can put on a good show.”
Each of the three races will feature a refueling stop in the newly constructed, purpose-built pit lane, which is brand new for 2011.
Drivers will use hard tyres in practice and qualifying and a combination of both soft and hard in each of the races. They must all use both type of tyre at some stage in each race.
The non-championship Albert Park 400 will be held on March 24-27, a week after the Clipsal 500.
Each driver will have three sets of the softer tyres to use across the three races, with two sets of new regular Hard tyres.
It’s the first time the softer tyre has been used at Albert Park and throws another curve ball into the mix with a $500,000 prize pool up for grabs.
Team BOC’s Jason Bargwanna says the soft tyre will increase the spectacle of V8 Supercar racing at Albert Park.
“That track is traditionally hard on tyres anyway so there should be quite a big difference between the lap times on hard and soft tyres,” he told BigPond Sport.
“The racing on soft tyres has been fantastic over the last 12 months or so, so I think it means we can put on a good show.”
Each of the three races will feature a refueling stop in the newly constructed, purpose-built pit lane, which is brand new for 2011.
Drivers will use hard tyres in practice and qualifying and a combination of both soft and hard in each of the races. They must all use both type of tyre at some stage in each race.
The non-championship Albert Park 400 will be held on March 24-27, a week after the Clipsal 500.
Pretty Re-Joins Gulf Western Oil Racing For Endurance Races
5:14 PM Mon 28 February, 2011
Experienced Bathurst specialist Nathan Pretty will return to Mount Panorama for his 14th attempt at Australia's 'Great Race' having re-signed with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport for this year’s V8 Supercars Championship endurance races.
Pretty will partner Warren Luff in the #30 Gulf Western Oil/Autopro Commodore at the L&H 500 at Phillip Island and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama in his second year with the team.
The 37-year-old has six top-10 Bathurst finishes to his credit and was unlucky to miss out on yet another last year when a cunning strategy by the Gulf Western team was negated by an untimely Safety Car and he and Mark Noske finished 17th.
Pretty’s best Bathurst 1000 finish remains fourth in a Holden Young Lions Commodore in 2002 with Rick Kelly, while his most recent top 10 result was an eighth with Jack Perkins in 2008.
"I'm absolutely rapt to be able to continue on in the Gulf Western Oil Commodore, to have a drive locked away this early in the year and then to be able to get some testing in through the year is fantastic for me and for the entire team," said Pretty, winner of the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour for Holden.
"We were really unlucky last year with that late race Safety Car, but the team showed in their first Bathurst how good a job they do.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for me to drive alongside Warren and with the team having another year's experience under its belts I am sure we'll be able to figure prominently in the results."
Team owner Lucas Dumbrell was thrilled to be able to retain the experience of Pretty.
"Nathan is a proven endurance driver who did a really great job for us at Phillip Island and Bathurst last year - he knows the car and the team, and we are happy to have him back in the Gulf Western Oil/Autopro Commodore," he said.
"To get our driver line-up sorted so early in the year puts us in a much stronger position than last year.
"We'll get Nathan into the car at the test days as much as we can so he's fully prepared and ready to go when the enduros roll around."
Luff and Pretty will test the Gulf Western Oil/Autopro Commodore at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria tomorrow, with the next event of the 2011 V8 Supercars Championship, the Clipsal 500, taking place in Adelaide on 17-20 March.
Pretty will partner Warren Luff in the #30 Gulf Western Oil/Autopro Commodore at the L&H 500 at Phillip Island and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama in his second year with the team.
The 37-year-old has six top-10 Bathurst finishes to his credit and was unlucky to miss out on yet another last year when a cunning strategy by the Gulf Western team was negated by an untimely Safety Car and he and Mark Noske finished 17th.
Pretty’s best Bathurst 1000 finish remains fourth in a Holden Young Lions Commodore in 2002 with Rick Kelly, while his most recent top 10 result was an eighth with Jack Perkins in 2008.
"I'm absolutely rapt to be able to continue on in the Gulf Western Oil Commodore, to have a drive locked away this early in the year and then to be able to get some testing in through the year is fantastic for me and for the entire team," said Pretty, winner of the 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour for Holden.
"We were really unlucky last year with that late race Safety Car, but the team showed in their first Bathurst how good a job they do.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for me to drive alongside Warren and with the team having another year's experience under its belts I am sure we'll be able to figure prominently in the results."
Team owner Lucas Dumbrell was thrilled to be able to retain the experience of Pretty.
"Nathan is a proven endurance driver who did a really great job for us at Phillip Island and Bathurst last year - he knows the car and the team, and we are happy to have him back in the Gulf Western Oil/Autopro Commodore," he said.
"To get our driver line-up sorted so early in the year puts us in a much stronger position than last year.
"We'll get Nathan into the car at the test days as much as we can so he's fully prepared and ready to go when the enduros roll around."
Luff and Pretty will test the Gulf Western Oil/Autopro Commodore at Winton Motor Raceway in Victoria tomorrow, with the next event of the 2011 V8 Supercars Championship, the Clipsal 500, taking place in Adelaide on 17-20 March.
Richards Stays Behind The Wheel
9:05 AM Mon 28 February, 2011
While he has been confirmed as an endurance driver for Ford Performance Racing, Steve Richards will not be cooling his heels in 2011 waiting for his chance to drive a V8 Supercar at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
The two-time Bathurst 1000 winner has confirmed a deal to join the revived Porsche Carrera Cup, which will support the V8 Supercars Championship throughout the coming season, including at the Phillip Island and Bathurst events.
After 15 years of full-time V8 Supercar racing, Richards - whose father Jim won the inaugural Carrera Cup Australia title in 2003 - will climb aboard a brand new 911 GT3 Cup car for the seven round series.
“I’m looking forward to becoming part of Porsche Carrera Cup Australia,” says Richards, who spent the four seasons full-time with FPR in V8 Supercars and tested his new mount at Winton last week.
“It’s going to be a great competitive series and having a full grid of cars is a great way to kick off the relaunched championship. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there at the Australian Grand Prix.
“Our aim for this year is to win the championship. It won’t be easy – it’s a competitive field and there are a few other drivers out there hoping to do the same. It’ll make for an interesting start to the season.
“There’s no doubt we’re going to see some very competitive racing at the pointy end of the grid and throughout the entire field.”
Richards will make his Carrera Cup debut at the Formula 1 QANTAS Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park before the all-Porsche series joins the V8 Supercars at Barbagallo, Townsville, Phillip Island, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sydney.
He will be up against a field including fellow V8 Supercar endurance drivers Craig Baird (a two-time Carrera Cup champion) and Michael Patrizi, with Marcus Marshall also linked to an entry in the 2011 championship.
The two-time Bathurst 1000 winner has confirmed a deal to join the revived Porsche Carrera Cup, which will support the V8 Supercars Championship throughout the coming season, including at the Phillip Island and Bathurst events.
After 15 years of full-time V8 Supercar racing, Richards - whose father Jim won the inaugural Carrera Cup Australia title in 2003 - will climb aboard a brand new 911 GT3 Cup car for the seven round series.
“I’m looking forward to becoming part of Porsche Carrera Cup Australia,” says Richards, who spent the four seasons full-time with FPR in V8 Supercars and tested his new mount at Winton last week.
“It’s going to be a great competitive series and having a full grid of cars is a great way to kick off the relaunched championship. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out there at the Australian Grand Prix.
“Our aim for this year is to win the championship. It won’t be easy – it’s a competitive field and there are a few other drivers out there hoping to do the same. It’ll make for an interesting start to the season.
“There’s no doubt we’re going to see some very competitive racing at the pointy end of the grid and throughout the entire field.”
Richards will make his Carrera Cup debut at the Formula 1 QANTAS Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park before the all-Porsche series joins the V8 Supercars at Barbagallo, Townsville, Phillip Island, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sydney.
He will be up against a field including fellow V8 Supercar endurance drivers Craig Baird (a two-time Carrera Cup champion) and Michael Patrizi, with Marcus Marshall also linked to an entry in the 2011 championship.
Richards And Youlden Confirmed As FPR Endurance Signings
9:00 AM Mon 28 February, 2011
Ford Performance Racing has announced the signing of Steve Richards and Luke Youlden for the V8 Supercars Championship endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
Richards will re-join his old team and co-drive with former teammate Mark Winterbottom in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, while Youlden will join Will Davison in the #6 Trading Post machine.
A full-time driver for the last four years with FPR, Richards will link back up with Winterbottom having shared a car with ‘Frosty’ at Bathurst for three of the last four Bathurst enduros.
“Of all the opportunities that could have transpired this is the best one,” says Richards, who will combine his FPR endurance commitments with an attack on the re-born Porsche Carrera Cup (see separate story).
“I know the team and I know Frosty. The previous times we’ve driven together have worked out really well and I think we are a real chance to win both races.
“Having two A-grade drivers which can operate at a high level whether it is wet, dry or indifferent – that is what you need for those races, particularly Bathurst.”
This season will be Youlden’s fourth as an FPR enduro driver and with Davison bringing raw speed and the experience of a previous victory at Bathurst (2009), car #6 will be as big a threat as car #5.
“This is my longest time with a V8 Supercar team as all my previous stints have been three years, so to get a fourth with FPR is great – I must be doing something right,” said Youlden, who finished third in last year’s L&H 500 at Phillip Island with Winterbottom in addition to another podium result on the Gold Coast alongside the Orrcon Steel ace.
“I am really looking forward to teaming up with Will. He has won Bathurst before and hopefully he can get another one and I can get my first.
“Overall, FPR’s cars are great, I had a strong run last year and I don’t see why I can’t do that with Will so I am looking forward to it.”
FPR team principal Tim Edwards was pleased to secure the services of Richards and Youlden as it not only provided continuity but two strong chances to continue the team’s solid endurance race form.
“Steve and Luke bring a lot of endurance race experience and knowledge of the team which will be invaluable come Phillip Island and Bathurst,” Edwards said.
“Steve was in high demand given his experience and race record in the enduros so it is a credit to the team and the strength of the relationship we have with him that he chose to drive for us.
“Luke has shown in the last three seasons that he has the pace to drop into our line-up for these two critical races so retaining him for a fourth year is the ideal scenario. He was also in high demand so we couldn’t be happier with our line-up.”
Richards will re-join his old team and co-drive with former teammate Mark Winterbottom in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, while Youlden will join Will Davison in the #6 Trading Post machine.
A full-time driver for the last four years with FPR, Richards will link back up with Winterbottom having shared a car with ‘Frosty’ at Bathurst for three of the last four Bathurst enduros.
“Of all the opportunities that could have transpired this is the best one,” says Richards, who will combine his FPR endurance commitments with an attack on the re-born Porsche Carrera Cup (see separate story).
“I know the team and I know Frosty. The previous times we’ve driven together have worked out really well and I think we are a real chance to win both races.
“Having two A-grade drivers which can operate at a high level whether it is wet, dry or indifferent – that is what you need for those races, particularly Bathurst.”
This season will be Youlden’s fourth as an FPR enduro driver and with Davison bringing raw speed and the experience of a previous victory at Bathurst (2009), car #6 will be as big a threat as car #5.
“This is my longest time with a V8 Supercar team as all my previous stints have been three years, so to get a fourth with FPR is great – I must be doing something right,” said Youlden, who finished third in last year’s L&H 500 at Phillip Island with Winterbottom in addition to another podium result on the Gold Coast alongside the Orrcon Steel ace.
“I am really looking forward to teaming up with Will. He has won Bathurst before and hopefully he can get another one and I can get my first.
“Overall, FPR’s cars are great, I had a strong run last year and I don’t see why I can’t do that with Will so I am looking forward to it.”
FPR team principal Tim Edwards was pleased to secure the services of Richards and Youlden as it not only provided continuity but two strong chances to continue the team’s solid endurance race form.
“Steve and Luke bring a lot of endurance race experience and knowledge of the team which will be invaluable come Phillip Island and Bathurst,” Edwards said.
“Steve was in high demand given his experience and race record in the enduros so it is a credit to the team and the strength of the relationship we have with him that he chose to drive for us.
“Luke has shown in the last three seasons that he has the pace to drop into our line-up for these two critical races so retaining him for a fourth year is the ideal scenario. He was also in high demand so we couldn’t be happier with our line-up.”
Fabian Coulthard: “Bundaberg Racing Has Turned The Corner”
12:00 PM Sun 27 February, 2011
Fabian Coulthard admits his first season with Bundaberg Racing was a struggle. Hampered by mechanical issues, the two-car outfit held the unenviable record of more DNFs than any other team last year.
However this year there's a strengthened resolve from the Melbourne-based team to turn it around. Coulthard is back for his second straight season with Walkinshaw Racing and its scaled-down Bundaberg Racing squad.
“On paper, the argument for scaling up to a two-car team looks a better choice, but for us I think scaling back to one car hasn’t hurt us, “ Coulthard told BigPond Sport.
“Last year I had high expectations but obviously didn’t achieve what I wanted to. I spent a lot of last year searching for things with the car that we just weren’t going to find and I then had to adapt my driving style accordingly.
“We seemed to be continually hampered by mechanical issues but I think we’ve come a long way in tying those up this year.”
One year on, and Fabian says that while the team personnel know and understand each other a lot more, they’ve also improved the car over the break.
“All three Walkinshaw Racing cars are now a lot more similar in set up than they have been, and I think that was reflected in our performance at Abu Dhabi.”
“We are currently seventh in the championship which is a lot higher than we were this time last year.”
The Kiwi says the addition of reigning champion James Courtney to the Toll Holden Racing Team has helped the Walkinshaw squad turn a corner.
“I used to cycle with James when I lived on the Gold Coast so I probably know him better than Garth does at this stage. I think that’s helped to make his transition to the team a bit easier.”
“James’ race win at the Yas V8 400 has reignited the fire in the belly of everyone in the team.
“Any team gets down when the results aren’t there, but I feel this year the team has turned a corner and there is a real hunger and desire to get back on top.”
Coulthard heads to the Clipsal 500 full of confidence, and rightly so - his fifth at the Sydney Telstra 500 and seventh at the Clipsal 500 street tracks were his best results of last year.
However this year there's a strengthened resolve from the Melbourne-based team to turn it around. Coulthard is back for his second straight season with Walkinshaw Racing and its scaled-down Bundaberg Racing squad.
“On paper, the argument for scaling up to a two-car team looks a better choice, but for us I think scaling back to one car hasn’t hurt us, “ Coulthard told BigPond Sport.
“Last year I had high expectations but obviously didn’t achieve what I wanted to. I spent a lot of last year searching for things with the car that we just weren’t going to find and I then had to adapt my driving style accordingly.
“We seemed to be continually hampered by mechanical issues but I think we’ve come a long way in tying those up this year.”
One year on, and Fabian says that while the team personnel know and understand each other a lot more, they’ve also improved the car over the break.
“All three Walkinshaw Racing cars are now a lot more similar in set up than they have been, and I think that was reflected in our performance at Abu Dhabi.”
“We are currently seventh in the championship which is a lot higher than we were this time last year.”
The Kiwi says the addition of reigning champion James Courtney to the Toll Holden Racing Team has helped the Walkinshaw squad turn a corner.
“I used to cycle with James when I lived on the Gold Coast so I probably know him better than Garth does at this stage. I think that’s helped to make his transition to the team a bit easier.”
“James’ race win at the Yas V8 400 has reignited the fire in the belly of everyone in the team.
“Any team gets down when the results aren’t there, but I feel this year the team has turned a corner and there is a real hunger and desire to get back on top.”
Coulthard heads to the Clipsal 500 full of confidence, and rightly so - his fifth at the Sydney Telstra 500 and seventh at the Clipsal 500 street tracks were his best results of last year.
