Turn 3 clash investigation to resume in Tasmania

A stewards’ investigation into a four-car incident that ended the Coates Hire Supercars Melbourne 400s of James Courtney and Rick Kelly will continue at Symmons Plains next month.

In Sunday’s final leg of the Albert Park weekend, James Courtney was turned around at Turn 3 on lap two, while trying to pass rookie James Golding.

Courtney’s Walkinshaw Andretti United Commodore went around and was hit by Kelly, while Lee Holdsworth also tagged it and had to pit for repairs.

While Golding appeared to make contact with the rear of Courtney’s Holden, the Garry Rogers Motorsport driver had Tim Blanchard and Anton De Pasquale right behind him at the time.

No outcome was reached, and the matter will be revisited at the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint on April 6-8.

“The incident involving Cars #34, James Golding, Car #21, Tim Blanchard, Car #99, Anton de Pasquale 2 and Car #25, James Courtney, remains under investigation and it will be reconvened at the next round of the Championship,” the stewards’ report read.

Courtney started 23rd but had made his way up to 20th on the opening lap, following Shane van Gisbergen through.

“It’s disappointing to have the weekend end like it did, especially after how strong we were at the start,” he said.

“To pass that many cars so quickly showed the strength we had, so to not continue hurt.”

De Pasquale, who started 10th, was with the pack following an opening-lap touch with Cameron Waters exiting Turn 10 that dropped him to 22nd.

Waters was given a five-second time penalty for the incident, which he found puzzling.

"We got a five-second penalty for tapping a car that was coming back on track, which was a bit rough to be honest, I don't know where they expected me to go,” Waters, who finished 22nd having pitted for fresh tyres during the Safety Car period, said.

Holdsworth lost two laps for upright repairs and was later given a 40-second time penalty for a restart breach, relating to any car multiple laps down cycling through pitlane.

The Deputy Race Director reviewed contact between Will Davison and Michael Caruso at Turn 3 on the opening lap, but deemed “no driver was wholly or predominately at fault” and did not refer it to stewards.