News

Track: Townsville Street Circuit
Race:  Townsville 400
Date:  9th July 2016

No. 12 Hog's Ford – Fabian Coulthard
Qualifying       P 10     Fastest Lap 1:12.57
Race 1       P 8            

No. 17 Shell Helix Ford – Scott Pye
Qualifying      P 21     Fastest Lap 1:12.98
Race 1         P 18       

Race 1 Recap: Fabian Coulthard survived a hard fought 200km race at the Townsville 400 to bring the Hog's Ford home in eight place. The No 12 DJR Team Penske Ford qualified in tenth place with Coulthard a lot happier with the performance after Friday's practice.

Scott Pye also improved his qualifying position, but on worn tyres was unable to hold a Top 15 finish when a Safety Car bunched the field for a two lap sprint to the flag. He bought the Shell Helix Ford home in eighteenth place.

The race started well for both DJR Team Penske drivers. With differing pit stop strategies, Pye was in first on Lap 15 and gained a good advantage moving up a number of places. Coulthard was one of the last to make his first stop and was banking on fresher tyres towards the end of the race. He had some great battles and a moved past Caruso on Lap 63 to consolidate eighth position.

It was Green Flag running for sixty five of the seventy laps. This was not what Pye was hoping for as he had cars behind him on fresher tyres and could not hold them out in the closing laps.
The team has made good progress today and will face another Qualifying session on Sunday morning prior to the Top 10 Shootout and the 200km final of the Townsville 400.

Fabian Coulthard Quote: "From yesterday to today's race I am relatively happy with the progress. The Hog's Ford was so much better on the second set of tyres. We had no pace at all on the first set and I really don't know why. With the second set it was a different car. I was able to race people and move up. We need to take the same step forward we took today and keep moving up."

Scott Pye Quote:  "The Shell Helix Ford is not really where we need it to be at the moment. We will press on with the boys tonight and come out with a better package tomorrow. Qualifying is so important as you often end up racing somewhere around where you start."
   
"The late Safety Car did not help as I as struggling on 30 lap old tyres and some guys behind me had a lot more speed in those closing laps."  

About Viva Energy Australia
Viva Energy Australia ("Viva Energy") was launched in mid-August 2014 following the completion of Vitol's acquisition of Shell's Australian downstream business. It comprises of the Geelong refinery, a 900 plus site-retail network and a bulk fuels, bitumen, chemicals and lubricants business supported by more than 20 terminals across the country. Viva Energy is the exclusive licensee of Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Australia. For more information – www.vivaenergy.com.au

About Hog's Australia's Steakhouse
Our founding father and original Boss Hog, Don Algie, was sailing along the Queensland Coast and settled into the idyllic surrounds of the Whitsunday Islands. Soon after, he opened the doors of the first Hog’s Breath Restaurant right there in Airlie Beach some 26 years ago.
In November the following year, a second store was opened in Mooloolaba and ever since, additional stores have followed. There are now over 80 locations currently around Australia and New Zealand and we’re still growing!