Penske Racing

SuperCars eSeries Race Report - Round 4

April 29, 2020

Supercars All-Stars Eseries Race Report – Round 4 – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Watkins Glen

Date:               April 29, 2020
Session:          Races 11, 12, 13 and 14
 
No. 12 Shell V-Power Ford – Fabian Coulthard

R11 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 23rd
R11 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 24th
R12 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 4th
R12 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 11th
R13 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 18th
R13 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 12th
R14 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 18th
R14 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 16th

Notes:

  • Coulthard showed promise in tonight’s races at several points, however was often caught in other’s incidents
  • Race 12, the second of the night, was his best outing. He lead much of the race, however a missed pit lane strategy call meant that he had to settle for 11th at the flag
  • The final race of the night was hampered after being pushed off circuit at the first corner, needing to pit for repairs before continuing. He pushed hard to claim a p16 finish.
  • Coulthard continues to sit well inside the Top 10 in the All-Stars Eseries points score.

Quote:

“It’s like a free-for-all out there a bit, especially in those reverse grid races. It’s a bit crazy. Not the results we were after, but I’ll do some prep for Spa and Nürburgring next week and hopefully get up the front. It was awesome to have Marcos, Joey and Alex on the grid with us tonight as well.”
 

No. 17 Shell V-Power Ford – Scott McLaughlin

R11 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 3rd
R11 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 3rd
R12 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 27th
R12 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 25th
R13 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 3rd
R13 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 2nd
R14 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 28th
R14 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 3rd

Notes:

  • McLaughlin, as the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s most experienced iRacer, again performed well in Round 4 of the Eseries.
  • He qualified third in both sessions, before mounted solid drives in all three races. Race 11 saw him start and finish third.
  • Race 12 was a rough one, getting taken out in the opening lap melee that saw the engine damaged and eventually blow. He pitted for repairs, and was able to salvage 25th.
  • The final two races saw great racing and battles between McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen and Anton De Pasquale with McLaughlin earning two additional podium finishes to maintain his lead in the Eseries points. He leads Cameron Waters by 80 heading to Round 5 next week.

Quote:

“That was really mentally draining tonight, I’m tapped! It was a lot of fun though. Plenty of carnage in those reverse grid races, we took a few hits but were able to come back and still earn some good points. Overall we were pretty consistent, which was good. Was great to have Joey and Marcos with us tonight too, always great to have guys of their calibre involved. Spa and Nürburgring next week will be pretty full on, I think.”
 

No. 40 Pirtek Mustang – Marcos Ambrose

R11 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 29th
R11 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 14th
R12 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 9th
R12 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 17th
R13 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 19th
R13 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 14th
R14 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 16th
R14 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 6th

Notes:

  • Marcos Ambrose made a return to top-flight Supercars competition for the first time since 2015 – albeit virtually – with a wildcard Pirtek backed Mustang tonight
  • The two-time Supercars Champion took six wins across the Cup and Nationwide NASCAR series at Watkins Glen, and a Nationwide NASCAR win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve making him an ideal candidate for a wildcard for this round
  • Despite hardware issues, Ambrose acquitted himself incredibly well to take solid finishes inside the Top 15 across the opening races
  • He saved the best for last, however, with a hard-earned sixth place finish in the final race of the night at Watkins Glen

Quote:  

“We had some issues tonight, couple of hardware issues, I had to have a friend run down the street to grab a new set of VR goggles so we missed a qualifying session, and then an overheating PC meant we started one race from the pit lane, but we got there in the end. You get mechanicals in online racing as well! Look, we had some great fun, was good to get the Pirtek Ford back out there on the track in their 40th year of operation. Pirtek have been with me for almost my whole career, so it was great to be racing for them again. It was just like the real thing, on the motion rig with the immersion of VR, and the level of competition out there it was intense. Online racing is here to stay.”
 

No. 56 Ford Performance Shell Mustang – Joey Logano

R11 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 27th
R11 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 29th
R12 Starting Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 2nd
R12 Finishing Position (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve): 22nd
R13 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 27th
R13 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 23rd
R14 Starting Position (Watkins Glen): 7th
R14 Finishing Position (Watkins Glen): 21st

Notes:

  • 2018 NASCAR Champion Joey Logano was another special guest wildcard tonight, running a Ford Performance branded Mustang GT Supercar
  • A self-confessed iRacing novice, Logano did his best to learn the 650bhp virtual Supercar around tracks where he has tasted success in his regular NASCAR Cup series racing
  • Logano, who is used to rolling starts in NASCAR racing, had difficulty getting the car off the line at the start of each race, but was able to maintain solid pace once up and running
  • Unfortunately trouble often found him during the races, which pushed him further down the order than he deserved to be. He ultimately recorded a best finish of 21st.

Quote: 

"Man, it was an early start this morning! It was plenty of fun. I just got this sim rig not too long ago, and I’m still trying to work out this whole e-racing thing out. I have gotten no better since this whole pandemic started! I’m on the old struggle bus right now. I’ll blame it on being early, and not having woken up yet! Look, these guys are awesome drivers, this is an awesome series and it was great to be out there in the Ford Performance Mustang wildcard tonight. All of us here at Team Penske watch the Supercars racing, especially Scott and Fabian, it’s fun to watch them kicking some butt today. Shame I couldn’t help the Team Penske stats tonight, but thanks to everyone for having me."

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