What caused costly Race 3 wheel issue for Golding Ford
Rare issueultimately denied James Golding top five championship position
Blanchard Racing Team recruit taken out of Race 3 contention after losing wheel
Golding claimed Race 1 pole, started season with podium on BRT debut
A rare wheel nut issue in Race 3 ultimately denied James Golding a top five championship position heading to Round 2.
The Blanchard Racing Team was the standout team in Sydney, Golding scoring pole for Race 1 before joining teammate Aaron Cameron on the podium.
While strategy denied the team a maiden win on Friday, issues on Saturday ultimately reared their head for both drivers.
Cameron has since stolen the headlines over his rivalry with Shell V-Power Racing Team driver Brodie Kostecki, but Golding was arguably more unlucky with a wheel issue.
Midway through Race 3, while running third behind eventual winner Broc Feeney and Kai Allen, Golding was wiped out of contention when his left rear wheel came loose and parted company through Turn 9.
Where a podium was there for the taking, Golding ended up last, three laps off the pace.
“We were a bit unfortunate there in Races 2 and 3, I think we could’ve had three podiums,” Golding told Supercars.com.
“With the wheel nut yesterday, the circlip that holds the nut on stayed on for the first wheel, the next wheel done up tight against that didn’t sit on properly.
“It eventually came loose. Just things like that, once in every couple of years happens, unfortunately happened to us in the first round.”
Golding was still pleased to have a strong base set-up, in what was his first weekend with BRT and engineer Tony Woodward, who joined from Brad Jones Racing.
“The good thing is, we’ve got a lot of speed in the car,” Golding said.
“The car’s been awesome. Just really looking forward to next round and also the rest of the season.
“Definitely a lot of confidence and belief in the team and the cars as well. So now it's just about ironing out any problems we've had and, and really focusing on nailing in the next few races.
"Obviously every race we go to has different strategy with race and tyres, the track surfaces. It doesn't mean that because we got it right here, we're gonna get it right on the next one.
“But we know we've got a good solid base there, which is the most important thing."
Supercars resumes in Melbourne on March 5-8.
