News

Track: Adelaide Parklands
Race:  Clipsal 500
Date:  March 5th 2016
 
No. 17 Shell Helix Ford Falcon FG X – Scott Pye
Race 1: Started P1 – Finished P12 – Fastest Lap Time 1:20.01
Race 2: Started P7 – Finished P7 – Fastest Lap Time 1:20.67
 
No. 12 Shell Helix Ford Falcon FG X – Fabian Coulthard
Race 1: Started P13 – Finished P10 – Fastest Lap Time 1:20.46
Race 2: Started P17 – Finished P14 – Fastest Lap Time 1:21.10
 
 
Recap Race 1: Scott Pye lined up in front of his home crowd in Pole Position in the Shell Helix Falcon. Jamie Whincup starting from alongside Scott got a better jump at the Green light, but Scott defended well into Turn 1 and held second place.

Fabian Coulthard was a little slower away but regained spots quickly to be in The Top 10 when the Pit Stops started.

Pye pitted on Lap 13, but a slow stop cost him dearly and dropped him back to P11 when all cars had had cycled through. Coulthard took his stop on Lap 15, and in fact gained spots, pulling out of Pit Lane right in front of Scott.

The race finished with Fabian gaining a 10th place in his first race with DJR Team Penske. Scott was two spots behind in P12, after a promising result slipped away.
 
Recap Race 2: With the temperature edging 38 degrees the field set off on the second 39 lap race. Scott held station in P7 until the Pit Stop on lap 10. This time a great Pit Stop by the DJR Team Penske crew put the Shell Helix Falcon into P5. Scott was in a big battle with Caruso who slipped by on Lap 27 and then Van Gisbergen on a late charge did the same to see the #17 Falcon cross the line in P7.

Fabian was in a number of battles as he once again made good progress from his P17 starting position. Dropping back as far as 19th on the opening lap, Coulthard kept chipping away to eventually bring the #12 Shell Helix Ford home in P 14.
 
Scott Pye Quote:  "Having the two shorter races made getting into the weekend a little easier but it was still very hot out there. You get no relief as you are battling all the time on this track with cars in front and behind you.

"I think the Shell Helix Falcon was a decent race car today. The first race is obviously disappointing but I know the team is working very hard and will overcome things like that. The second race we got to fifth but with the tyre drop off towards the end of the race got passed by Caruso and Van Gis. All in all not a bad start with a seventh, and the car was better in Race 2 which is a good sign for tomorrow."
 
Fabian Coulthard Quote: "I think the real positive from the day was we were one of the only cars that was able to make up a few spots in each race. It is good for my confidence knowing we can make up ground and work our way forward.

"We got a bit unlucky in the second race with a few moves which pushed us wide, but I feel our potential was just outside the Top 10. We have got a straight car and I’m sure we can move the Shell Helix Ford further up in the 250km race on Sunday."