Prodrive Racing (Australia)’s Mark Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert have made the most of a tough race at Barbagallo Raceway, taking home a good points haul in the high-degradation hit-out. Following a strong start from Winterbottom, he and teammate Mostert ran out a consistent race to finish fifth and sixth respectively. Re-joining in fourth place after the round of pit stops, Mostert was unable to hold off a charging Shane van Gisbergen with only five laps remaining. With Winterbottom sitting just one second behind Mostert on newer tyres, he also allowed his teammate past with the hope of chasing down the Triple Eight driver. Following an undesirable start Jason Bright was able to use his tyre life to move through the field in the dying stages, crossing the finish line in his qualifying position. Despite losing time in pit lane, Cameron Waters was also able to make the most of his late pit-stop and a slowing field before crossing the line four cars wide to claim 19th place.
DRIVERS’ VIEW
Mark Winterbottom – #5 The Bottle-O PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 6th – 55.11s
Race 7: 5th
“We had p5 pace today and we finished p5 and that pretty much sums up our day. The two Penske cars are ridiculously fast in front. We were the best of the rest almost with the Triple Eight cars. We all ran about the same. We went longer in the first stint and they (Chaz) went shorter but you end up in the same position. We need to work on speed. Our tyre life isn’t the drama it’s just the half a second a lap that we’re not quick enough. We’ll try and tune it up but it’s good to get a top five result again. We’re starting to show some consistency and we know we’re heading in the right direction.”
Mark Winterbottom – #5 The Bottle-O PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 6th – 55.11s
Race 7: 5th
“We had p5 pace today and we finished p5 and that pretty much sums up our day. The two Penske cars are ridiculously fast in front. We were the best of the rest almost with the Triple Eight cars. We all ran about the same. We went longer in the first stint and they (Chaz) went shorter but you end up in the same position. We need to work on speed. Our tyre life isn’t the drama it’s just the half a second a lap that we’re not quick enough. We’ll try and tune it up but it’s good to get a top five result again. We’re starting to show some consistency and we know we’re heading in the right direction.”
Cameron Waters – #6 Monster Energy PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 23rd – 55.52s
Race 7: 19th
“Today wasn’t really our day. Such a small factor can put you so far back here because the field is so close. So we started from 23rd which wasn’t what we wanted and then the tyre at the pit stop put us back as well which is disappointing because we would have finished in a reasonable position but these things happen. We made a few spots up at the end after pitting a little bit later than everyone else so at least we gained a few but there are definitely a few things we need to go over tonight to make the car better for tomorrow.”
Qualifying: 23rd – 55.52s
Race 7: 19th
“Today wasn’t really our day. Such a small factor can put you so far back here because the field is so close. So we started from 23rd which wasn’t what we wanted and then the tyre at the pit stop put us back as well which is disappointing because we would have finished in a reasonable position but these things happen. We made a few spots up at the end after pitting a little bit later than everyone else so at least we gained a few but there are definitely a few things we need to go over tonight to make the car better for tomorrow.”
Chaz Mostert – #55 Supercheap Auto PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 5th – 55.07s
Race 7: 6th
“Yeah it’s not exactly where we want to be. I’d probably like to be up a little bit further. It’s kind of all we really had today. We’ve got a bit of work to do tonight but overall I’m still happy to be well up inside the top 10 and with a straight car. We’ll tune her up and have another crack at it tomorrow.”
Qualifying: 5th – 55.07s
Race 7: 6th
“Yeah it’s not exactly where we want to be. I’d probably like to be up a little bit further. It’s kind of all we really had today. We’ve got a bit of work to do tonight but overall I’m still happy to be well up inside the top 10 and with a straight car. We’ll tune her up and have another crack at it tomorrow.”
Jason Bright – #56 MEGA Bulk Fuels PRA Ford:
Qualifying: 16th – 55.32s
Race 7: 16th
“I just got bogged down at the start so straight away we were at the back of the field which was disappointing. We chose to pit late which allowed us to move up a few spots in the final few laps as cars started to come back to us. The speed is almost there but the tyre is such a big factor. After about 13 laps it starts to fall away and it becomes all about looking after it. There are a few things to look at overnight and hopefully we’ll have a better start tomorrow.”
Qualifying: 16th – 55.32s
Race 7: 16th
“I just got bogged down at the start so straight away we were at the back of the field which was disappointing. We chose to pit late which allowed us to move up a few spots in the final few laps as cars started to come back to us. The speed is almost there but the tyre is such a big factor. After about 13 laps it starts to fall away and it becomes all about looking after it. There are a few things to look at overnight and hopefully we’ll have a better start tomorrow.”
Tim Edwards – Team Principal:
“It’s good to get the points. We have a bit of speed still to find in the cars to match the front-runners but we have an idea of what we need to work on. It was an unfortunate race for Cam. He would have been on for quite a good result if we hadn’t of lost time in the pit stop. There was at least 10 seconds there that he lost. We have more of an idea now on tyre life and strategy so we’ll be focussing on that overnight.”
“It’s good to get the points. We have a bit of speed still to find in the cars to match the front-runners but we have an idea of what we need to work on. It was an unfortunate race for Cam. He would have been on for quite a good result if we hadn’t of lost time in the pit stop. There was at least 10 seconds there that he lost. We have more of an idea now on tyre life and strategy so we’ll be focussing on that overnight.”
RACE 7 RESULTS
1) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske
2) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske
3) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight
5) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team
6) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing
16) Jason Bright – MEGA Racing
19) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing
1) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske
2) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske
3) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight
5) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team
6) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing
16) Jason Bright – MEGA Racing
19) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske: 706
2) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight: 681
3) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 651
4) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing: 633
6) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team: 528
8) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing: 475
20) Jason Bright – MEGA Racing: 285
1) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske: 706
2) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight: 681
3) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 651
4) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing: 633
6) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team: 528
8) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing: 475
20) Jason Bright – MEGA Racing: 285
TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
1) DJR Team Penske: 1362
2) Triple Eight: 1332
3) Prodrive Racing Australia: 1038
1) DJR Team Penske: 1362
2) Triple Eight: 1332
3) Prodrive Racing Australia: 1038
