Hi to all you Supercars Fans around the world!
On the weekend of the 8th and 9th of May 2021 was the OTR Supersprint at The Bend in South Australia.
The event consisted of 3 races, 24 laps each which includes 18 ‘Bends’ over the shortened circuit of 4.95km. So they are fast and furious sprints with not much room for error.
I am sure that Jamie Whincup was trying not to repeat the incident of the 2020 OTR Supersprint. He made contact with Scott McLaughlin. It impacted Whincup’s race and chance at the championship.
Jess Yates returned to the host desk for Foxsports after giving birth to her second child, Samuel Lewis Egan on the 30th of March this year. That is less than 6 weeks prior to this event. So fellas, forget the heroic stats of all the drivers, this woman is the real deal.
Pit reporter, Molly Taylor was not present. She was in the hot seat in Saudi Arabia doing her other ‘job’ rally driving. Incidentally she claimed victory. Congratulations!
In the Race 9 Pre-Race sessions results were as follows:
- Mark Winterbottom was fastest in Practice 1
- Andre Heimgartner was fastest in Practice 2 and Armour All Qualifying.
In Race 9 Andre Heimgartner started on pole position (his second pole in his supercars career). Alongside him was Chaz Mostert.
Chaz Mostert got the jump into turn 1 but didn’t stay in the race lead for long. He ran wide on lap 1 which gave the pole sitter Andre Heimgartner the race lead.
Pretty soon Andre Heimgartner was pulling away from the rest of the field.
When the pit stops started the leaders stayed out longer to keep track position. Later, when Andre Heimgartner was exiting after his stop he made contact with the incoming Jamie Whincup. As a result he got a 5 second post-race pit lane penalty.
Andre Heimgartner now had had a mission to build a 5 second lead into his win to make up for the penalty. He showed amazing form and kept inching ahead. Pretty soon it was evident that no one was going to catch him. By the end of the race he had well reached his goal and came in first a little under 9 seconds ahead of the next competitor, Chaz Mostert.
Congratulations Andre Heimgartner on your first Supercars win.
Results for Race 9
1st Andre Heimgartner – Kelly Grove Racing
2nd Chaz Mostert – Walkinshaw Andretti United
3rd Anton de Pasquale – Dick Johnson Racing
In race 10 Anton de Pasquale took his first pole position in his Supercars career. Alongside him was teammate, Will Davison.
At the start of the race Anton de Pasquale got the jump and led into turn 1 for the first of 24 laps.
Will Davison tried to go around the outside at turn 1 but couldn’t do it safely so backed off.
The cars further back in the pack came in early to get clear track, which worked for most.
The leaders stayed out longer to keep track position.
In the middle of the race Anton de Pasquale was the race leader and looking strong to take his first win for DJR in 2021.
Towards the end of the race no one else could catch Anton de Pasquale for the ace win. Getting his second win in his supercars career must have been an exciting moment for him. Congrats Anton!
Results for Race 10
1st Anton de Pasquale – Dick Johnson Racing
2nd Will Davison – Dick Johnson Racing
3rd Shane Van Gisbergen – Red Bull Ampol Racing Team
In race 11 Anton de Pasquale yet again started on pole position alongside him this time was the 7 times Supercars champion, Jamie Whincup.
At the start of the race Jamie Whincup looked as though he might have taken the lead but that wasn’t the case. Anton de Pasquale was having a good weekend.
The cars further pack were trying to move forward but the only way to do that was through strategy.
Mark Winterbottom hit a career milestone starting his 500th race. As if to celebrate he made up 7 spots in the opening stages of the race. Congrats Frosty.
As the pit stops started the list of to have or to have pitted was moving up and down like the stock market.
In the middle of the race Cameron Waters was leading having moved up two places from his starting position on the grid.
Shane Van Gisbergen was in hot pursuit but couldn’t find the space to overtake. Just too many ‘Bends’. His only option was trying to pressure Cam Waters into making a mistake. Cam Waters kept his focus and great form to the finish making the weekend a Ford clean sweep.
Results for Race 11
1st Cameron Waters – Tickford Racing
2nd Shane Van Gisbergen – Red Bull Ampol Racing Team
3rd Will Davison – Dick Johnson Racing
The next event is the Winton Supersprint on the 29th and 30th of May 2021.