Slade defends bold Race 19 strategy

Tim Slade believes starting on the Super Soft strategy is the right fit despite his podium chances evaporating.

Slade vaulted from ninth to the lead in the opening laps as those around him raced on Hard tyres.

He led the majority of the race before his rivals reverted to Super Softs for the run home.

Slade came home eighth, which was a net gain of just one position.

However, the CoolDrive Mustang pilot was adamant the strategy was appropriate.

“It was cool to lead some laps; the start was fun,” he said.

“It was like stealing candy from babies when you’re on the Super Soft, and everyone else is on the Hard.

“I still think, regardless of the end results, that was the right strategy for us.

“Where we ended up is where we were car speed-wise.”

Slade as yet to score a podium for the Blanchard Racing Team since he joined in 2021.

Saturday loomed to be that chance, but the front-runners showed their true pace in the second half of the race.

Slade was happy to lead from the front, despite coming home 49 seconds adrift of winner Shane van Gisbergen.

“You definitely had to maximise the first couple of laps just to get some clean air and make the most of the Super Soft,” he said.

“It was a lonely old race… you get to the end and you’re eighth, and it feels like a lot of work to get there.

“We maximised, and it was a good result. It depends on your car speed, and where you start.

“For us, I don’t know if we’d do anything different.

“Looking at the guys in the top seven, they put the Super Softs on at the end."