News

TOWNSVILLE, QUEENSLAND, 11 JULY 2015:  Scott Pye has finished in 5th place in the opening 200km race at Townsville today after putting the Shell Helix Falcon FG X into contention in every session. The day started with a 20 minute practice which saw Pye right on the pace in P4. As DJR Team Penske turned their attention to Qualifying, Pye again put in a strong run to record a P5 grid position.

From the start of the 200km journey, the Shell Helix Falcon was running with the lead group. Nearly all the field elected to adopt a 'Soft – Hard – Soft' tyre strategy which paid handsomely for the #17 Falcon as the car showed great pace on the softer compound tyre late in the race.

Pit Stop strategy played a big part in the final results. The DJR Team Penske team made their final stop later than the likes of Mostert, Reynolds and Van Gisbergen ensuring Scott had the best of the available tyre life towards the end of the race.

He passed Courtney for P6 on Lap 62 and backed it up by getting a slowing Mostert on Lap 65 to move into a strong fifth place at race end.

The final 200km race will take place on the streets of Townsville on Sunday afternoon.

SCOTT PYE – #17 SHELL HELIX FALCON FG X 
"A real credit to the DJR Team Penske guys today. We are working really hard here and I am really proud of them. The Shell Helix Ford was quick on the soft tyre, so to do the two stints on them paid dividends. I was really confident – the car was so strong under brakes, I was able to look after the tyres on the corner exit and make up time on the way in.

"We weren't as strong on the hard tyre and lacked bit of pace to the quickest guys. It hurt us a bit as we lost a spot to Fabian (Coulthard) but when we got back on the soft tyre we could really start punching out the lap times.

"I am really happy with the day. It is great to be racing the guy's right up the front of the field. It is very promising for the future races."