Wilson Security 500 Sandown – Pre race report 2016

Hi to all you V8 Supercar fans around the world.

In 2015 on the weekend of the 11th – 13th of September 2015, was the Wilson Security Sandown 500, Dad and I were there. We watched all the practice sessions and qualifying. The main race on Sunday 13th September, was very exciting. We also got to catch up with some old mates as well as make some new friends… I had the chance to meet my favourite Game Show host Grant Denyer.

Grant Denyar & I

See below for the list of Main drivers and their Co-drivers.

For those of you who missed the Sandown 500 here is what happened in 2015, the race is 161 laps long and because it is an endurance race we have the main drivers and we have co-drivers. The co-drivers do the first 54 laps.

sandown-race-track

Paul Dumbrell started on pole position alongside them was Steve Owen, on lap 1 Paul Dumbrell got the jump and led the field through turns 1, 2 and 3 for the first of 161 laps, Marcos Ambrose didn’t get a good start and dropped back through the pack.

On lap 2 Chris Pither entered pitlane to top up on fuel and get some clear air as no one was coming in behind him.

On lap 3, Steve Owen was trying to catch Paul Dumbrell during the co-driver’s stint. Marcos had dropped back to, as far as 24th spot.

On lap 4 Cameron Waters was following Jonathon Webb. Jonathon Webb made a big mistake in-between turns 3 and 4.

On lap 5 the Jonathon Webb was holding off Cameron Waters.

On lap 6 the pack was starting to settle into a race pace, on the same lap, Greg Murphy was chatting to Scott Pye about the start that Ambrose made.

On lap 10 Warren Luff was in front of former V8 Supercars driver Karl Reindler.

On lap 11 Steve Owen was chasing down Jamie Whincup, Alex Premat had to pit twice the first it was to remove the air spike for the air jacks the 2nd time was to serve a pit lane drive thru penalty for an unsafe release. In the middle of the race, Jamie Whincup was still leading the race, in fact they led the first half of the race, then Mark Winterbottom took over. Jamie Whincup lead for the first 86 laps, before he had to make 6 pit stops due to a hook coming off the gantry.

Towards the end of the race Mark Winterbottom of Pepsi Max dominated followed by his team mate Chaz Mostert and finished 1, 2.

The commentators were Greg Rust, Neil Crompton and pit reporters Greg Murphy and Riana Crehan.

Results for the 2015 Wilson Security Sandown 500

1st – Mark Winterbottom and Steve Owen. – Pepsi Max Crew.
2nd – Chaz Mostert and Cameron Waters – Pepsi Max Crew.
3rd – Shane Van Gisbergen and Jonathon Webb – Tekno Autosports.

Last year’s Main drivers and Co-drivers

Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell – Red Bull Racing Australia – Car 1
Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards – Red Bull Racing Australia – Car 888
Mark Winterbottom and Steve Owen – Pepsi Max Crew – Car 5
Chaz Mostert and Cameron Waters – Pepsi Max Crew – Car 6
David Reynolds and Dean Canto – Rod Nash Racing – Car 55
Scott Mclaughlin and Alex Premat -Volvo Polstar Racing – Car 33
David Wall and Chris Pither – Volvo Polstar Racing – Car 34
Jack Perkins and Russell Ingall. Holden Racing team – Car 22
Garth Tander and Warren Luff – Holden Racing team – Car 2.
Tim Slade and Tony Dalberto – Supercheap Auto racing – Car 47
Lee Holdsworth and Sebation Bourdais – Walkinshaw Racing – Car 18
Scott Pye and Marcos Ambrose – Dick Johnson Racing – Car 17
Rick Kelly and David Russell – Jack Daniels Racing – Car 15
Todd Kelly and Alex Buncombe – Nissan Motorsport – Car 7
James Moffatt and Taz Douglas – Nissan Motorsport – Car 99.
Micheal Caruso and Dean Fiore – Nissan Motorsport – Car 23
Nick Percat and Oliver Gavin – Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport – Car 222
Tim Blanchard and Karl Reindler – Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport – Car 3
Will Davison and Alex Davison – Erebus Motorsport V8 – Car 9
Ash Walsh and Jack Lebrocq. Erebus Motorsport. V8 – Car 4
Jason Bright and Andrew Jones – Team BOC – Car 8
Fabain Coulthard and Luke Youlden – Freightliner Racing – Car 14

This weekend the Main Drivers and Co-drivers are: –

Jamie Whincup and Paul Dumbrell – Red Bull Racing Australia car 88.
Shane Van Gisbergen and Alex Premat – Red Bull Racing Australia car 97.
Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards – Team Vortex car 888.
Will Davison and Jonathon Webb – Tekno Autosports car 19.
Garth Tander and Warren Luff – Holden Racing Team. Car 2.
James Courtney and Jack Perkins – Holden Racing team car 22.
Mark Winterbottom and Dean Canto – Rod Nash Racing the Bottle O Racing Team car 1.
Chaz Mostert and Steve Owen – Supercheap Auto Racing. Car 55.
Cameron Waters and Jack Le Brocq. Monster Energy Racing Team car 6.
Scott McLaughlin and David Wall – Volvo Polstar Racing car 33.
James Moffatt and James Golding – Volvo Polstar Racing car 34.
Jason Bright and Andrew Jones – Team BOC car 8.
Tim Blanchard and Macauley Jones – Team Cool Drive car 21.
Tim Slade and Ash Walsh – Freightliner Racing car 14.
Lee Holdsworth and Karl Reindler – Preston Racing team. Car 18.
Chris Pither and Richie Stanaway – Super black racing car 111.
Rick Kelly and Russell Ingall – Nissan Motorsport car 15.
Todd Kelly and Matt Campbell – Nissan Motorsport car 7.
Michael Caruso and Dean Fiore – Nissan Motorsport car 23.
Fabain Coulthard and Luke Youlden – Dick Johnson racing Team Penske car 12.
Scott Pye and Tony Dalberto – Dick Johnson Racing team Penske car 17.
David Reynolds and Craig Baird – Erebus Motorsport car 9.
Nick Percat and Cameron Mcconville – Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport car 222.
Dale Wood and David Russell – Nissan Motorsport car 96.
Shae Davies and Chris Van der Drift – Erebus Motorsport, car 4.
Andre Heimgartner and Aaren Russell – Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport car 3

 

 

Sydney Motorsport Park Eastern Creek – Post Race 2016

Grid walk

Hi to all you V8 Supercars fans around the world.

On the weekend of the 26th – 28th August 2016 was the Red Rooster Sydney Supersprint.

This weekend started for Dad and I on the Wednesday when Dad picked up an accessible car from Freedom Motors. Then we booked in to the Atura Hotel in Blacktown NSW, where we stayed the weekend.

On the Friday we arrived early to watch all the practice races and meet up with the drivers and their crews to get our photos taken. Eddy Mostert, who has become a friend of ours started stirring me up early about the Ford and Holden competition, then Tim Edwards joined in and this continued all weekend. Lucky they have thick skins… Hahaha…

On the Saturday Dad and I had the fortune of meeting Craig Lowndes new wife Lara and she told me that Craig had spoken fondly of us. Dad and I were impressed that he remembered us, as so many people love and follow Craig. Before the race started Lara gave us the final 2 Grid Walk passes (Thank you Lara), this gave us an opportunity to get more photos with the cars before the race started.

Lara Lowndes

In race 18 Chaz Mostert started on pole position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen of the 31 lap race.

On lap 1 Chaz Mostert got the jump and led through turns 1, 2 and 3 but then he ran wide approaching turn 4 which resulted in him going nearly off the track and on to the grass. Which meant that Shane Van Gisbergen took the race lead. Jamie Whincup had passed Scott Pye at the same corner and then after he had passed him, he then passed Chaz Mostert to move in to 2nd spot. Also Chaz Mostert was under pressure from Scott Pye.

In the middle of the race Jamie Whincup made his pit stop and he re-joined behind his teammate Craig Lowndes then Scott McLaughlin got passed by Jamie Whincup at turn 6.

Towards the end of the race the 2 Red Bull cars battling for the race lead and the race win, coming up in fifth place was Craig Lowndes.

Results for race 18.

1st – Shane Van Gisbergen – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2nd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3rd – James Courtney – Holden Racing Team.

In race 19 we are looking for Jamie Whincup to finally get his 100th chamionshop win.

Chaz Mostert started on pole position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen for the 51 lap race. On lap 1 Craig Lowndes went from 4th to 1st by turn 1, Mark Winterbottom locked up his front right tyre. Scott McLaughlin nearly ran right off the track on the exit of turn 1.

In the middle of the race Jamie Whincup nearly hit the back of Craig Lowndes entering the pit lane.

Towards the end of the race Jamie got a bad sportsmanship flag for all 4 wheels over the yellow line on the exit of turn 5, but managed to hold on to take the race win and become the 2nd driver to join the 100 club. Congratulations Jamie.

Results for race 19

1st – Jamie Whincup – Red bull racing Australia.
2nd – Craig Lowndes – Team Vortex.
3rd – Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing.

The next event is the Wilson Security Sandown 500 in 3 weeks’ time September 16th – 18th September 2016.

I had my photo taken with Glenn Seton, Tim Edwards, Neil Crompton, John Bowe, Karl Reindler, Lee Holdsworth, Grant Denyer, Cameron Mcconville, David Reynolds, Fabain Coulthard, Cameron Van Den Dungen, Chad Neylon, Kyle Bullock, Garth Tander, Lara Lowndes, Mark Dutton, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup.

The commentators were Neil Crompton, Mark Skaife, Greg Rust, Greg Murphy and Riana Crehan.