Hard Luck on Hard Tyres

Craig Lowndes was the only driver to start 200km Race 20 on the soft tyre at the Sucrogen Townsville 400. And it paid off for the Red Bull racer, who climbed 12 positions in nine laps to lead for a large chunk of the 70-lap race.

Post-race, winner Will Davison described his strategy as “brave”.

After a disappointing qualifying session that saw Lowndes and Championship leading teammate Jamie Whincup start 12th and 16th respectively, the strategy change meant Lowndes was fast early. He was so quick, in fact, he garnered a lead of over 20 seconds.

He pitted halfway through the race, on lap 35, but after changing to hard tyres looked vulnerable on the Dunlop compound.

“Given we both qualified back in the pack we had to run two different strategies to split us up a bit,” Lowndes said after the race yesterday. 

“I started on the softs and I think today it worked well,” he said.

“We were very lucky and were praying there wouldn’t be a safety car.”

It’s an unusual occurrence at the circuit – over the past four years a safety car had been deployed in 75 percent of the races at Reid Park. But today’s 70 laps were all green, maximising the benefit of Lowndes’ strategy.

Some drivers had mentioned how difficult it was to pass on the hybrid circuit – so using soft tyres out of sequence gave the #888 pilot an opportunity to climb his way to the top.

“Using the softs early really helps us get through the pack, stay out of trouble and get clean air so when we got on the hards we could salvage a good position,” Lowndes said,

“And finishing fourth from 12 was a very good result.

“I was very thankful the race went start to finish without incident and attack from the front. The soft tyre you’ve got the grip, you can generate speed and drive straight without damaging the tyre. But on the hards you’re sliding around and it’s like a cheese grater effect. I ended up with nothing to play with.”

Leading into the event, Lowndes said he was more confident on the soft compound – and it showed today. 

However, Lowndes has eaten into his teammate’s Championship lead, reducing the gap to just 135 points. One hundred and 50 points will be awarded for a win in today’s Race 21.

Whincup said he was happy to have made up nine positions, given where he started the day.

“Given we started 16th, it was always going to be a tough day,” he said.

He also had a stronger car on the soft tyre.

“We got a clean run, but on the hards we just couldn’t do anything. But on the softs, the car is miles better.

“We have struggled all weekend on hards, we qualified poorly on hards and struggled in the race. Then we put the softs on and they transformed the car.

“It just shows how important set-up is. I’ve got the best prepared, best built, fastest car out there but if you don’t get the set-up right you’re mid-pack.

“Plan is now to work on the set-up some more and hopefully qualify better.”

ARMOR ALL Qualifying for Race 21 is at 12.45pm AEST today, and is followed by Race 21 at 3.35pm.