Frustration for Golding over Murray clash
Frustration for James Golding over Cooper Murray clash
Golding had jumped from 21st to 11th in 10 corners before clash
Jack Le Brocq leapfrogged BRT driver into 10th in points
James Golding cut a dejected figure in the Townsville paddock after two lap 1 incidents in as many days dropped him out of the championship top 10.
A day after being hit in a Turn 2 collision involving Blanchard Racing Team teammate Aaron Cameron, Golding was turned around by Erebus Motorsport driver Cooper Murray at Turn 11. Just seconds earlier, Cameron was turned around in Sunday's Turn 2 melee, and was forced out of the race.
Oddly, Golding and Murray collided as Safety Car boards and yellow flags flew, while Jackson Walls was also attacking Murray down the inside.
Murray, though, was quickly handed a 15-second penalty over the clash. Golding finished 17th, with Murray 19th with the fastest lap.
In a team video, Erebus CEO Barry Ryan labelled the contact as a "silly error."
The stewards report, meanwhile, reads: "The vision showed Car 99 collided with Car 7 at Turn 11 on Lap 1, resulting in damage to Car 7. Car 7 lost multiple positions as a consequence of the collision and resulting damage. The Stewards consider this driving conduct amounts to a breach of the Rules and impose a penalty consistent with previous breaches of a similar nature."
Finishes of 12th, 22nd and 17th consigned Golding to 18th for the round, his worst of the season.
“It was basically carbon copy today. I started 21st. I was in 11th after the first sector, and then still got drilled, and then it's just all gone again," Golding said on Supercars' Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
When asked if he wanted to discuss the incident with Murray, Golding replied: "Nah. Wouldn't waste me time."
After starting the weekend 67 points clear, Golding heads to Perth 11 points down, having been jumped by Matt Stone Racing's Jack Le Brocq.
“Not the most enjoyable time I've had here, to be honest,” Golding said.
“We had a few dramas this weekend. I thought when we rolled out we were pretty competitive, and I thought it was gonna be a good weekend.
“But just things [have] gone wrong, and obviously getting taken out multiple times doesn't help at all. So, I guess you gotta be out of that sort of mid-pack to eliminate those problems.
"But, what do you do? You just focus on the next one.”
Adding insult to injury, BRT was docked 30 teams' championship points over a pit lane breach, with the fuel churn placed in a car before it was on the air jacks.
