Fiery stop for Slade and Walsh

A disastrous pit stop fire has wrecked the chances of the Tim Slade/Ash Walsh Freightliner in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

A botched pad change at a scheduled stop resulted in brake fluid spilling on to the hot disc and spectacularly catching fire.

“One of the pads fell out in the change so when they went in to pump it and pumped the piston out,” explained co-team owner Kim Jones.

The car was in second place in the race when Walsh pitted on lap 54 after a strong stint, in which he had traded fastest times with the leading Red Bull Commodore, being driven by Paul Dumbrell.

The Freightliner Commodore rejoined the race two laps down after hurried repairs and effectively out of contention unless the team can pull some of the strategy magic it is traditionally renowned for.

“That’s the way it goes sometimes,” said a philosophical Walsh.