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AUCKLAND SUPERSPRINT - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 – QUALIFYING AND RACE

Fabian Coulthard - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Qualifying – 7th (Combined Practice Time – 1m02.8831s)
Race 23 – DNF (Fastest Lap: 1m04.4679s)

Scott McLaughlin - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Qualifying – 4th (Combined Practice Time – 1m02.7153s)
Race 23 – 3rd (Fastest Lap: 1m03.5775s)

Fabian Coulthard - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Recap: Following the cancellation of qualifying due to torrential rain, the grid was set by the combined practice times set on Friday. This saw Fabian start from 7th position on the grid. The track dried sufficiently by race start that slick tyres were the call. A long first stop saw Fabian take max fuel, with the benefit of a shorter second stop. He was up to 10th position and pushing forward in the final stint of the race when an incident between Chaz Mostert and David Reynolds out of the hairpin saw Fabian pushed onto the damp grass. There was no grip out there, and the No.12 went backwards into the wall at Turn 9, which then flipped the car onto its roof. Fabian climbed out of the car, and walked away however it has left the crew with a big repair job overnight. As a result, he has gone to third place in the championship, 110 points back. Shell V-Power Racing's lead in the Teams' Championship has been cut to 39 points.

Coulthard Quote: "It just basically all stems from that redress that Chaz tried to do when he bumped Reynolds out of the way. I went along for the ride. It's one of those situations where you're a passenger and you just don't know how hard it's going to hit and when it's going to hit. Being the racer that I am, you go to anyone down pit lane they would've done exactly the same thing I did. There was a gap, I went for it and I just got a tag from Reynolds, so it is what it is. I'm gutted for my guys, obviously. The car is fixable, it's just going to be a long night tonight."

Scott McLaughlin - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford

Recap: McLaughlin started fourth on combined practice times, and then worked his way forward across the opening stint to be right on Jamie Whincup's bumper. They had several spectacular battles throughout the race, each one at high speed around the Pukekohe Park bullring. They came out of the final pit stops nose to tail, however were held up behind the Safety Car, which allowed Shane van Gisbergen and Mark Winterbottom to jump them. This placed Scott fourth on the road. He passed Whincup at the hairpin a couple of laps later, and then drove away to consolidate the final podium place. It has jumped him to second in the Championship, only 18 points behind Whincup.

McLauhglin Quote: "We had a crack. Cool to see a kiwi on top, but I wanted to be it. It's good for the crowd here. When I passed Jamie I could see them all cheering – it gives me goose bumps, it's so awesome. I was holding my breath when I was full locked right, around that fast sweeper. We race hard and fair. I think that's what the crowd comes to see. That really sucks for Fabs, but I'm sure our awesome team will get it back out tomorrow."