Walkinshaw TWG Racing deliver 1-3 shock at The Bend
Toyota has last laugh after Ford, GM camps took swings
Chaz Mostert/Fabian Coulthard dominate race in Supra
Walkinshaw TWG Racing CEO Bruce Stewart was left near-speechless after his team pulled off a stunning 1-3 result in Sunday’s AirTouch 500 at The Bend.
Chaz Mostert and Fabian Coulthard delivered a shock victory from 11th on the grid, with Ryan Wood and Jaxon Evans powering from 14th.
On its Supercars enduro debut, Toyota nailed a double podium and, with it, banished demons of recent weeks after engine issues and long nights.
It meant a great deal to team boss Stewart, who was fighting his emotions.
“There's a lot of elation, but you're also bloody relieved,” Stewart told the Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
“We’ve been through a lot of mud and hard ground. And so in that respect, I'm just rapt for the whole team, the people in the team, the boys and girls who've worked such long hours.
“And I know it sounds like a well-worn cliche, and don't turn off the pod right now… what I've gotta tell you, this is genuine. Bugger me. Like, without our people, we are nowhere.
“What has happened in the workshop between these events from Darwin to Townsville to QR has been extraordinary. And you wouldn't ask it of your worst enemy, but these people just dig in and have a crack, and will not say no.”
Mostert’s Ipswich DNF was a body blow after the ‘B-spec’ Toyota engine, delivered ahead of the enduros, copped a reliability hit straight out of the gate.
On Sunday, amid a week dominated by parity headlines from the Ford and Chevrolet camps, Toyota had the last laugh.
“This team is bloody epic and I'm so proud and happy for them, and I want to buy them a few drinks tonight,” Stewart continued.
“I’m an old guy now, and I'll stand in the corner and, and just have a couple. I'm rapt for all the energy, all everyone's spent on this.
“It’s paid really well, and I'm rapt for the fans, for Toyota and our partners.
“Doubt is a beast that creeps in your head, but when you get to work and everyone's up and around you, and they're, ‘No, this is what we're doing’.
“I’m bloody rapt because you don't get many of these days.”
