News

Track: Hidden Valley Raceway
Race:  CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown
Date:  19th June 2016

No. 12 Taubmans by PPG Ford – Fabian Coulthard
Qualifying     P 16       Fastest Lap 1:06.46
Race 2         DNF        Lap 1 accident        

No. 17 Shell Helix Ford – Scott Pye
Qualifying      P 11      Fastest Lap 1:06.38
Race 2          DNF      Lap 7 accident   

Recap Race 2: Two separate incidents eliminated both DJR Team Penske Fords in the early stages of today's final 200km race at the Darwin SuperSprint. The racing was fierce in the opening laps with cars spinning and running three wide on the tight confines of the Hidden Valley track.

From a mid-grid start, Fabian Coulthard was on the move in the Taubmans by PPG Ford but was caught between James Moffat and Chaz Mostert in the run between Turns three and four. He was the pushed from both sides and turned around into the wall retiring the No 12 on the spot.

With the Safety Car deployed the whole field headed for the pits and Scott Pye made good ground in the Shell Helix Ford and moved up to ninth spot. At the restart he was also caught in a three wide battle heading into Turn 6, when Reynolds pushed him onto the grass and onto a spin. The subsequent damage saw the No 17 Ford unable to return to the pits.

With both cars out after only seven laps, the team were only left to rue what turned a promising weekend into chaos. Managing Director Ryan Story summed the situation up as the crew began an early pack up. "Not a great day for us at all. It is very disappointing to be involved in incidents like that so early in a race. Both drivers were caught in three wide incidents and we came off second best in both. It has meant two bent cars to be loaded in the truck and a lot of work for the boys before Townsville."
 
Fabian Coulthard Quote: "A case of wrong place at the wrong time. Moff kept coming across on me and I was not too sure how far Mozzie was up next to me. I felt like I was in a pin ball machine and ended up in the wall."

"I hate creating unnecessary work for the boys and feel sorry for them the most. I am OK but the Taubmans by PPG Ford car will need a lot of work before Townsville."

Scott Pye Quote: "I felt like we had a car that would have been right at the front today. We were out of position from my own mistake in Qualifying but I am just gutted to be taken out so early. Reynolds was swerving behind me I'm not sure why he darted so sharply, but he turned me and I went across the grass and T-boned someone. I could not get the car back to the pits so had to park it on the front straight."

"The race was really mad at the start. It is such a long race and everyone is going at it and this is what happens. To have both DJR Team Penske Fords out so early is very disappointing."