News

Track: Pukekohe Park, New Zealand   
Race:  ITM Auckland SuperSprint
Date:  6th November 2016
Race 3 and 4  
 
Race Recap: The MAN Truck and Bus Fords of Scott Pye and Fabian Coulthard have scored good race finishes in the final two 100km SuperSprint races today at Pukekohe. Pye continued his good form at the track grabbing second place in the first race.
 
Qualifying for race one delivered the best result since the formation of DJR Team Penske with Scott Pye's No 17 MAN Ford in second and Fabian Coulthard one spot behind in third.
 
Race 1 was a turbulent affair with Scott Pye getting a great start only to be topped by Winterbottom into Turns 2 and 3. The two MAN Fords were running in fourth and fifth until Lap 11, when they were elevated to second and third as the two Red Bull drivers tangled. Pye was able to hold position and came home in a fine second place. Coulthard was under pressure, and with his tyres past their best, lost two spots to finish fifth.
 
Race 2 saw both MAN Fords start strongly and settle into sixth and seventh positions. Fabian was soon on the tail of a group consisting of Winterbottom and Mostert but lost some ground in the closing stages to finish in eighth, just one spot ahead of team mate Pye.
 
No. 12 MAN Ford - Fabian Coulthard
Qualifying 3: P   3   Fastest Lap 1:03.07
Qualifying 4: P   6   Fastest Lap 1:02.94
Race 3:        P   5
Race 4:        P   8
 
Fabian Coulthard Quote: "We got off the line well in the MAN Ford but just did not have the pace to race with guys around me in either race. It was better to concede in some cases to ensure we could get good points in both 35 lap races."
 
"Overall for the team it was a pretty good weekend, with Scotty getting a podium in the first race. It is a good thing for all the guys on the team who have worked so hard over the recent weeks. The last round in Sydney sees us back on a street circuit so we will work on tuning up my car for the final races."
 
No. 17 MAN Ford – Scott Pye
Qualifying 3: P   2   Fastest Lap 1:02.91
Qualifying 4: P   8   Fastest Lap 1:03.01
Race 3:        P   2
Race 4:        P   9
 
Scott Pye Quote: "I made a good start in the first race and once the two Red Bull guys took each other out, it was about managing the tyres on the MAN Ford and trying to maximize the speed over the 35 laps."
 
"I was able to get a bit of a gap at the start and maintain it. I think there were a few mistakes from guys behind me so it allowed us to open the gap even more, which gave me a good chance to save the tyres until the end and get back on the podium."