Drivers' Quoteboard: Race 36

Shane van Gisbergen, Team TEKNO VIP Petfoods, p1:

“It was an awesome day, there was plenty of action. Especially from around lap 15, with so many strategies going on. And then after the safety car, when these guys [Jason Bright and Jamie Whincup] pitted, we stayed out and we’re the ones that were losing on fuel, so I had to pull a gap. I came out of the pits right with Jamie there, and he got me out of turn one. 

“The car was faultless for the whole race, I was able to pass people on a street circuit relatively comfortably today, which is always good and to come away with another win was a great way to finish the year. 

“I think we have the car to go better next year, a few times this year I’ve made mistakes and there’s been a few strategy blunders, but overall we’ve had a fast car all round. I think next year, if we can get a few updates from Uncle Roland [Dane - Team Principal, Triple Eight] we might be able to challenge Jamie. I think I said on the radio on the last lap that this day last year was the worst day racing that I’ve ever had, and this year is the opposite. It’s been amazing, really. 

“I copped a lot of shit at the start of the year, but I’m here racing, it’s what I love to do. I race drifting, SuperTourers, all that stuff that I’ve never previously been able to do. To go racing is the best thing ever, and this today – I didn’t actually count yesterday – is six weeks in a row since the Gold Coast, everything I’ve raced I’ve been on the podium. I’m drifting again next weekend, and I’ll try to make it seven! Just loving getting in the car, whatever it is, pushing to the limits, and it’s been fun just driving the way I want to this year.”

Jason Bright, Team BOC, p2:

"We pitted when everyone else did initially and were conserving fuel, thinking everyone was going to the end, but it became apparent around halfway that we were the only ones. It was all a bit disappointing to see that last safety car come out because I think we would have held onto the lead if it had run to the end.

"We were a bit lucky with Jamie. I didn't know he was there; I was too busy tangling with Shane. The first I knew of it was when he was in my door. I knew my only chance was to get him into the next corner and I was hoping the championship was playing on his mind and he'd make it easy.

"This year I thought we were a shot at the Championship to start out with but street circuits really hurt us. I really wanted to come here and prove that we've got on top of our street track problems and I think our pace has shown that. That was the ingredient that we needed this year." 

Jamie Whincup, Red Bull Racing Australia, p3 and Championship winner:

“Unbelievable.

“Number five – I can’t believe it. It’s a massive deal. We dedicate our lives to sport and this is what for.

“It’s just a huge team effort. It’s been a tough year with this new car. And a big thanks goes to Lowndes. It’s just as much his as it is mine. We worked really hard together on these cars and to get the 1-2, it couldn’t be any better.”

David Reynolds, The Bottle-O Racing, p4:

“After qualifying 17th I wouldn’t believe someone if they’d told me I’d finish fourth. At the start my car had no balance and the changes we made at my first pit stop transformed the car. At one point I was quickest. We ended up second at the last safety car but I got put back to fourth when van Gisbergen lunged me and I couldn’t recover back after that. I had a great year with the team. They are so cool and awesome to work with. My new engineer Nathaniel (Osborne) is great and I can’t wait for next season to start. I actually don’t want to have a holiday!”

Craig Lowndes, Red Bull Racing Australia, p5:

“He (Whincup) was a champ and he deserved it.

“We have got a great relationship and work very hard together to make sure both cars are up the front. He had a great run today and what a helluva year.”

Mark Winterbottom, Pepsi Max Crew FPR, p6:

“To be honest third or fourth overall doesn’t really bother me as neither spot ends with me getting the prize I was aiming for. I went hard yesterday and that cost me but I’ve finished third for the last three years so I did all I could to win the Championship. Overall we had a good year filled with ups and downs and while it was a pretty eventful weekend, I really just wanted to give my engineer James (Small) a fitting send off before he moved overseas to NASCAR. We didn’t quite do that but we won Bathurst together so the year has been far from a bad one.”

Will Davison, Pepsi Max Crew FPR, p7:

“Third overall was realistically all that was possible this weekend. It has been tough but all I did was consolidate my position this weekend and we gained the benefit of doing just that. I am obviously quite satisfied right now but Frosty and I have fought hard for the last three years and he is a quality teammate so it has been good racing so close together. I have to thank FPR for a great three years and for me it is now time to look to the future.”

Alex Davison, Team JELD-WEN, p8:

“It was a tough race and there was no rest as I was pushing as hard as I could the whole race. Our pace wasn’t awesome but it was respectable. I had a terrible first lap and got stuck on the outside of turn one. I was lucky not to get put in the fence and from there we went out of sync on strategy and that helped me gain some spots and then a couple of safety cars helped me move into the top 10. Ultimately I didn’t have the pace to go with Frosty and the leaders but the rears tyres went off towards the end. Will made up a spot which I had no idea would change a big Championship battle with he and Frosty. I actually blocked Will on the last lap but obviously not hard enough. He was determined and now I know why so I am happy he moved up to third overall.”

Chaz Mostert, Wilson Security Racing DJR, p9:

“It was great to finish the season with another Top 10 for the boys at DJR. It has been a great year with some very good results. Today was a tough race but the strategy was good and we had a fast race car. I was in the Top 10 and running with the main pack in front of me but just couldn’t squeeze enough out of it in the final laps.”

Fabian Coulthard, Lockwood Racing, p15: 

"I only had second gear on the last lap. Up until then I was on target for my goal, a top five in the championship, but unfortunately we ended up where we did.

"We just struggled for locking margins in qualifying. In the race it was better but a whole heap of things had us on the back foot: being turned around at the start, being stuck in the pack, safety cars that didn't go our way and a strategy that wasn't the best.

"Just because I had a poor result here doesn't mean my expectations for next year haven't lifted. I'm looking forward to the season getting under way again. We'll work hard in the off season."

Todd Kelly, Jack Daniel’s Racing, p17: 

"That was a tough race out there and a lot hotter than yesterday, the set of tyres I had in the middle stint felt really bad and I was all over the place, but the last set of tyres felt like they griped up a lot more.

"It's was a tough day, as usual I ended up with a few other Nissans around towards the end, but it was good to come home and have all four cars nice and straight.

"If it wasn't for a little bit of a fuel economy deficiency and the way those safety cars fell, we could have been a lot further up and we certainly had the pace to be further up than where we finished, so we'll improve that for next year and have another go."

Rick Kelly, Jack Daniel’’s Racing, p18: 

"It was a difficult day today, the temperature was a bit higher, so it was more challenging in the car, but it was still a good race and I'm happy I brought the car home.

"I followed big brother home towards the end and he just had a bit too much for us to try and sneak by, so he did a really good job.

"We got up to ninth after a good opening few laps and the strategy and safety cars as a combination just didn't go our way and there is not much we can do about that.

"We're still using a little more fuel and for us that's the way the cookie crumbles. Overall we have to be happy with yesterday, and happy with the car pace, and we can leave the weekend with the #15 and #7 rockets in one piece."

Michael Caruso, Norton Hornets, p19:  

“We were running really strong for the majority of the race, so it’s a real shame to finish down in 19th.

“The fuel burn on the Altima is still not as good as our rivals, but we know that and we were always venerable.

 “We’ve got another big off-season, because we know we have some big gains to make and we know we have to launch into 2014 bigger and better.

"I want to thank Norton, Nissan and all of our great sponsors for 2013 and I look forward to launching into the new season." 

Jonathon Webb, Team TEKNO Darrell Lea, p24:

“Well, what a weekend! Not the way I wanted to finish it after yesterday, but it’s been a great weekend for the team. To have both Shane and I on the podium yesterday, and then for him to go one better and win the race today is fantastic and great for our awesome little team. Even better is the fact that we’ve jumped the Holden Racing Team in the Team’s Championship, which is an incredible result for us! The boys have worked really hard all year, and whilst we’ve had some down times, there’s been plenty to cheer about too. It was great to be back on the podium yesterday, and while it would have been nice to join SVG up there, it’s great to get a team win. We’re a strong team, and I’m very proud of everything these guys do to give us a fast car to go racing with. Thanks boys!”

Tim Blanchard, Wilson Security Racing DJR, DNF: 

“It hasn’t been the greatest of weekends for us. The race pace today was good, the pit stop strategy was good and we were knocking on the door of a Top 10 finish. I had a brake failure going into turn one. The pedal went straight to the floor with no warning. We were on our way to the flag when it happened so it was a very disappointing conclusion.  I was looking forward to finishing the year on a high for the DJR boys but it wasn’t to be.”

James Moffat, Norton Hornets, DNF: 

“A driveline related problem put us out today. I felt like I had a problem four or five laps prior to that. It was still shifting OK, but there was a strange noise after each shift.

“It’s very disappointing to end the season like that. We didn’t have a quick car as it was and I didn’t have much to fight with.

“It’s not good to have a Norton car finish on the sidelines again. It’s probably happened too many times in the back half of this season and it’s definitely something we need to improve on.

“We’ve had some get highs this year, including our win at Winton, so I need to thank Norton, Toshiba, Steadfast and Nissan for their fantastic support. I have full confidence that 2014 will be a much stronger year for us.”

From the teams

Tim Edwards, Ford Performance Racing team principal:

“While we fell short of the podium today we saw a series of strong races by all four of the drivers with each featuring at the head of the pack at one or more parts of the race.

"Dave did an exceptional job to come through from the back half of the field to almost land on the podium. He’s shown recently he’s taken a step up so full credit to him.

"Mark and Will were in and around the front for most of the race and while Mark’s chance at fighting for the win evaporated under the safety car he did all he could in the circumstances. Will then had a big battle with his brother which had a bearing on the final championship spots. He eventually prevailed and on behalf of everyone here we thank him for three seasons of great racing.

"Alex’s late season form has been positive and another top 10 was just reward and allowed us to have all the cars in the top eight which is a huge credit to the entire team.” 

Ryan Maddison, Erebus Motorsport V8 CEO:

“To complete the season with a clean run and be truly competitive on what is a very tough circuit is a credit to everyone on the team.

“When you consider how far we have come since racing in Adelaide in February, everyone on the team can feel very proud.

“Developing every aspect of our program in front of the public is not desirable, but it has seen us become a favourite of the fans and enabled them to really connect with our brand.  

“2013 has been a build, development and reliability year for Erebus Motorsport V8.

“We have put these key pillars in place and now we can look forward to 2014 being about performance. It all starts in 10 weeks.”