AUCKLAND SUPERSPRINT - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 – QUALIFYING AND RACE
Fabian Coulthard - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Qualifying – 8th (Fastest Lap: 1m02.8333s)
Race 24 – 5th (Fastest Lap: 1m04.0117s)
Scott McLaughlin - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Qualifying – 2nd (Fastest Lap: 1m02.5203s)
Race 24 – 2nd (Fastest Lap: 1m03.8467s)
Fabian Coulthard - No. 12 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Recap: It was a race of conservation and strategy for the Car 12 team, with smart driving and good work in the pits seeing Fabian jump from an eighth place start into a top-five finish. Fabian fell back a little in the early stages of the race, however as pit stops and fuel strategies played out he catapulted through the field. It was a strong points haul for him after yesterday's disastrous DNF, and places him 176 points back from the lead in third place of the Championship. His good run also scored valuable Team’s points, with Shell V-Power Racing leading the field by 106 heading into the final event.
Coulthard Quote: "I'm nothing without my team, and the fact that I was out on track at all is completely down to them. After finishing up on my roof yesterday, I'm very happy to finish in the top-five today, and will keep pushing to the end."
Scott McLaughlin - No. 17 Shell V-Power Racing Ford
Recap: McLaughlin was pushing hard for success in front of his home crowd today, missing pole position by a tiny five-hundredths of a second before racing Jamie Whincup hard across the 70-lap, 200km race. The team took an aggressive approach on fuel strategy, however raw pace was lacking and McLaughlin had to settle for his second podium of the weekend. He missed winning the JR Trophy by only three points, and is now 30 points behind Whincup, sitting second in the Championship heading into the Newcastle 500 – the final race weekend of the season.
McLaughlin Quote: "Happy with how the weekend has played out, I've kept myself in contention with two podiums this weekend, only 30 points behind heading into Newcastle. Disappointed that I couldn't get a win in front of my home crowd, but we'll take the fight to the last race."