News

BATHURST 1000 – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 – WARM-UP & RACE
 
Fabian Coulthard & Tony D'Alberto - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Warm-Up – 2nd (Fastest Lap: 2m06.3375s)
Race 20 – 3rd (Fastest Lap: 2m07.9387s)
 
Scott McLaughlin & Alex Premat - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Warm-Up – 16th (Fastest Lap: 2m07.2938s)
Race 20 – DNF (Fastest Lap: 2m30.0512s - wet)

Fabian Coulthard & Tony D'Alberto - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Recap: Fabian Coulthard and Tony D'Alberto's day started from 7th on the grid, with Coulthard driving the first stint in extremely wet conditions. It was tough going, with Car 12 offering massive understeer on the extremely damp track. Fabian drove as well as he could, keeping the car straight until he handed over to Tony on lap 15. The rain varied in density across the opening 100-odd laps, before a dry line began to appear and the change to slicks was made. Fabian was back in the car to run to the flag on lap 105 as the track began to dry. They both struggled with balance in the wet, but as the track continued to dry the car improved and the pace came. As others made errors, Fabian kept the car on the track and was able to capitalise on mistakes to take his first Bathurst podium, assuming both the Championship points lead and the lead of the Pirtek Enduro Cup. Fabian leads by 91, with Scott 3rd 97 behind. The team continues to lead the Teams' points, 328 in front of Triple 8.

Coulthard Quote: "If you'd told me before the start of this weekend that I'd leave with my first Bathurst podium, the Championship lead and the lead of the Pirtek Enduro Cup I probably wouldn't have believed you! It's been a great day for me, a real shame for Scott and Alex, they were super quick all weekend so seeing them go out like that wasn't good at all. Good for the team though to still get a result today. Tony was fantastic, he did such a great job in that rain to keep the car in one piece where many others didn't. All round, an awesome day."

D’Alberto Quote: "It definitely was a tough day, but that's the nature of the race. We just kept going. Even when things didn't feel good and the track was really difficult to drive I just kept telling myself to do the best job I could, and hand the car back to Fabs in good condition. Credit to Phil and all the engineering team for working together to help us get this podium. It was great to see Ludo and the car 17 team assist us after their car went out, it was a really good team effort and was fantastic to see. I'm stoked to repay that effort and get a podium today."

Scott McLaughlin & Alex Premat - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Recap: The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is always an epic race, and the 2017 edition delivered in spades. It was both cruel and kind to Shell V-Power Racing, delivering a DNF for the Car 17 crew, and a podium place for the No. 12. Scott McLaughlin started the No. 17 Shell V-Power Ford, and held the lead across the opening lap, before making a minor error at Turn 1 on Lap 2 in the extremely slippery conditions to drop back to sixth. He then settled in for a long race, before handing the car to Alex Premat on Lap 25. An engine issue began to appear in car 17 around lap 45, which the team believed initially to be an electrical problem. A recycle of the power was attempted to rectify the issue, and then a new map was loaded into the ECU at a pit stop. Unfortunately the problem proved to be terminal, with Car 17 coming to a stop on track on Lap 75, with Scott and Alex marked a DNF.

McLaughlin Quote: "It hurts to go out of the race like that, something that's not really within our control. I was getting ready to get into the car when the engine went, and Alex had to pull over on the side of the track. It doesn't take away what we did yesterday, knowing we were the fastest car around Mount Panorama, but that's how it goes. It's a tough old race to win, and now we have to move on."

Premat Quote: "Everything was there for us this weekend. We had pace, the car was a jet but Bathurst is not an easy place to win and it wasn't our year. Pretty heartbreaking being in the car when the engine stopped, but then I got to watch a lot of the race from the side of the track at McPhillamy Park! It is a shame for Scott's championship, but we will try again on the Gold Coast."