'I just had nothing to fight with': Davison
A dejected Will Davison was left “shocked” by his lack of grip which forced him to surrender his Race 27 lead to Anton De Pasquale.
Davison crossed the line fifth in the first Sunday race, 12 seconds behind Shell V-Power Racing teammate De Pasquale, who secured his second win of the BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint.
De Pasquale and Davison formed a Shell V-Power Racing Team front row for the race, and the #11 led the #17 early doors.
The duo skipped away and opened up a three-second gap Jamie Whincup by lap 7.
Davison headed into pit lane for four new tyres on lap 10, and was hoping to capitalise on an undercut.
However, it unravelled in 10 laps when the #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustang started to lose grip.
“Not much I can say, it wasn't much fun,” Davison said.
“I just couldn't hang on to the tyres, so what can you say, I’m pretty gutted.
“But that’s what it is, I wasn't good enough today.
“I think we had a good shot that race but not close at the end, I just had nothing to fight with, it was hard, hard work."
De Pasquale was given the green light to execute a clean pass on lap 20, leaving Davison vulnerable to a charging Jamie Whincup.
With six laps remaining, the dominoes began to fall; Whincup and Chaz Mostert fought past Davison, opening the door for Shane van Gisbergen.
Van Gisbergen mirrored his teammate’s efforts on Davison on lap 31, and used his extra grip to motor past Davison.
It marked the third frustration for Davison in as many weeks as De Pasquale secured his fifth win in eight starts in Sydney.
Davison lost a possible win in Race 21 at the Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight.
Six days later at the ARMOR ALL Sydney SuperNight, Davison was annoyed over a run-in with van Gisbergen in Race 23.
On Sunday, Davison's grip "fell off the cliff" and took him from a victory battle to fighting to hang onto the top five in a matter of laps.
“For three weeks now, we've been a bit all over the place, here, there and everywhere,” Davison continued.
“I thought we came back to basics a little bit today.
“Balance was a little bit nicer than yesterday, but then yeah, I was pretty shocked by the tyre that went off the cliff.
“I felt it in the first stint and again in the second one, so a bit of weirdness going on.
“Obviously the cars are fast; congrats to Anton, but I'm a bit lost and a bit confused as to what's going on these last few weeks, but we'll get back there.”
The BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint will conclude with Race 28 at 4:45pm AEDT.
