Remember Last Year: Tasmania
Brad Jones Racing’s Fabian Coulthard and Jason Bright dominated last year’s event at Symmons Plains, taking all three wins between them. However, the event can also be remembered by some big impacts in the races – namely an accident involving Scott Pye, who slammed head-on into an Armco barrier, and another with David Reynolds, who’s Falcon lifted in the air, leading the joker to declare he had hit 'two Walls'.
The tight 2.4km circuit hosted exceptional racing in 2013, with three races unfolding across the weekend.
Jamie Whincup started on ARMOR ALL Pole Position for the first race, Coulthard alongside.
Craig Lowndes and Shane van Gisbergen battled hard early in the race, the Kiwi ultimately holding position and Lowndes falling off the road, soon to be a lap down. While he led the Championship points heading into the round, the damage done in that race is something he considers a defining moment of his season.
The Garth Tander-Jason Bright battle began at Tassie, a contest that was relived through the year, particularly at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. Interestingly the Holden pair finished just 59 points apart in the overall standings at the end of 2013 – Bright ahead in seventh.
It was close at the front but Whincup had to yield, giving Coulthard the lead with 23 laps to go. Spots of rain appeared, but that didn’t stop the Kiwi from taking his first Championship race win ahead of Whincup and Mark Winterbottom.
Click here for the race report.
The first Nissan home was Michael Caruso in 16th and first Erebus Merc Tim Slade in 22nd.
Back to back qualifying sessions opened Sunday, with Bright and Winterbottom starting from pole, though Coulthard was on the front row for both.
Bright held his ground in that second race, and Tander muscled onto the podium, earning Holden Racing Team’s first for the year.
The first Erebus machine home was Lee Holdsworth in 13th, the first Nissan James Moffat in 15th.
Click here for race report.
The final race saw Coulthard continue his hot streak, ahead of Winterbottom – who limped his Falcon over the line with a delaminated tyre and damage to the front of the car.
James Courtney also snuck on the podium, the second for HRT at the event.
The first Nissan home was Todd Kelly 16th, followed by Erebus pilot Holdsworth 17th.
Click here for the race report.
The weekend’s happenings led Triple Eight team boss Roland Dane to declare their dominance of the category was over.
Scott Pye’s team had to quickly turnaround the ekol Commodore, with New Zealand the following week.
And Jamie Whincup took the Championship lead, 63 points ahead of Will Davison, with Courtney third.
Who will be victorious this time around? The Tyrepower Tasmania 400 runs from March 28-30 and sees the first Supersprint event of 2014.
