Ryan sets Bathurst target for complete performance

Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan is hopeful his team can execute a full race together by Bathurst, following a promising weekend in Townsville.

In what was the team's second weekend in the General Motors data-sharing alliance, Erebus ticked a series of boxes and had both drivers fighting in the top half of the field.

Sunday was just the second time both Cooper Murray and Jobe Stewart had qualified in the top 17, showing proof of the gradual gains that have emerged over recent races.

A clumsy clash with James Golding on lap 1 undid Murray's fast start, but he went on to secure the fastest lap of the race. Murray finished 19th, just behind Stewart, who fell away in the final stint.

"There were some really encouraging signs for the weekend," Ryan said in a team video.

"We put in some good qualifying efforts, a couple of good race stints, but we didn't put a whole thing together.

"Today, Jobe ran really strong in the top 12 and then had a good middle stint, and then the last stint just didn't happen for him.

"Cooper got a penalty, just a silly, silly error by the look of it. Fought back really well, got the fastest lap of the race."

While there has been little to take away from the first half of the season, Erebus — as ever — is targeting October's Great Race, where it burst onto the last year.

"We've got some strong cars, and the drivers are getting there. The pit crew's doing a good job. We did some good stops today," Ryan continued.

"We've just got to combine and get it all to a level where we need to get to, to be winning, and that's hopefully by Bathurst."

Murray and Stewart are 22nd and 24th heading to the Bosch Power Tools Perth Super 440 on July 31-August 2. Murray and Stewart will be joined by Lochie Dalton and Jarrod Hughes respectively for the enduros.