Virgin Australia Supercars, Queensland - Round 8
July 23, 2016
Track: Queensland Raceway
Race: Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint
Date: 23rd July 2016
No. 12 Penske Truck Rental Ford - Fabian Coulthard
Qualifying 1: P 6 Fastest Lap 1:10.21
Race 1: P 10
No. 17 Penske Truck Rental Ford - Scott Pye
Qualifying 1: N/A Accident during Practice 3
Race 1: P 21
Race 1 Recap: DJR Team Penske encountered a tough day at the opening race of the Ipswich SuperSprint. Fabian Coulthard was just starting a lap to post a time in the final practice session just as Scott Pye lost the rear brakes in the No 17 Penske Truck Rental Ford at Turn 3 slamming into the tyre barrier and bringing the session to a close. Coulthard was then the only DJR Team Penske Ford to Qualify and a sixth position was a solid result.
With Pye cleared from the Medical Unit, the crew launched into a rebuild of the car and had it ready to take a start from the Pit Lane with just five minutes to spare. The Pit Lane officials cheering as the iconic No 17 rolled down the lane.
At the start Coulthard bogged down and lost three spots. Soon after he was in a in a great battle with pole sitter Pither and Caruso but was deemed to have pushed the Nissan driver off the track and the Stewards ordered him to redress the position. With Caruso now some six spots behind Fabian immediately dropped further down the order.
Meanwhile Pye had latched onto the end of the field and was making good progress in a car that was less than 100%. He would continue to move up the field to post a twenty first position finish. Coulthard was one of the last to pit and after a slow getaway form the pit box, set about regaining track position finally finishing in tenth spot.
Fabian Coulthard Quote: "At the start we got away badly off the grid which cost me a few spots. After making some ground, I was battling Caruso in the early stages and I felt he came across on me but the end result was not good for me. We fought our way back but I stalled when I left the pit box at the stop so we were down the order again."
"I tried my best to get the Penske Truck Rental Ford as far forward as I could after the stop but there were a few guys around me making life difficult. We had a quick car but a result further up wasn't to be."
Scott Pye Quote: "The boys did a fantastic job fixing the Penske Truck Rental Ford after the Practice crash. The race was tough, the steering was 'left hand down' and there were some vibrations which made it difficult to even read the dash, but we got it on track and finished the race.
"I'm sure with more time we can tune it up for a better result tomorrow."