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Consistent Improvements in Perth

08/05/2017

Chaz Mostert has finished the weekend on a high at the Perth SuperSprint on the podium for the third time this year.

Mark Winterbottom had a consistent weekend finishing both races in the top 5 and is excited to continue making gains at each race event.

It was a tough weekend for Cameron Waters with mistakes from both himself in qualifying and also while in the pits in Race 7. He made up for it in Race 8 with a different strategy finishing just outside the top 10.

Saturday

Mark Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert have made the most of a tough race at Barbagallo Raceway, taking home a good points haul in the high-degradation hit-out. Following a strong start from Winterbottom, he and teammate Mostert ran out a consistent race to finish fifth and sixth respectively.

Re-joining in fourth place after the round of pit stops, Mostert was unable to hold off a charging Shane van Gisbergen with only five laps remaining. With Winterbottom sitting just one second behind Mostert on newer tyres, he also allowed his teammate past with the hope of chasing down the Triple Eight driver.

Despite losing time in pit lane, Cameron Waters was also able to make the most of his late pit-stop and a slowing field before crossing the line four cars wide to claim 19th place.

 

Drivers' View

Mark Winterbottom - #5
Qualifying: 6th – 55.11s
Race 7: 5th

"We had p5 pace today and we finished p5 and that pretty much sums up our day. The two Penske cars are ridiculously fast in front. We were the best of the rest almost with the Triple Eight cars. We all ran about the same. We went longer in the first stint and they (Chaz) went shorter but you end up in the same position. We need to work on speed. Our tyre life isn't the drama it's just the half a second a lap that we're not quick enough. We'll try and tune it up but it's good to get a top five result again. We're starting to show some consistency and we know we're heading in the right direction."

Cameron Waters - #6
Qualifying: 23rd – 55.52s
Race 7: 19th

"Today wasn't really our day. Such a small factor can put you so far back here because the field is so close. So we started from 23rd which wasn't what we wanted and then the tyre at the pit stop put us back as well which is disappointing because we would have finished in a reasonable position but these things happen. We made a few spots up at the end after pitting a little bit later than everyone else so at least we gained a few but there are definitely a few things we need to go over to make the car better for Race 8."

Chaz Mostert - #55
Qualifying: 5th – 55.07s
Race 7: 6th

"Yeah it's not exactly where we want to be. I'd probably like to be up a little bit further. It's kind of all we really had. We've got a bit of work to do but overall I'm still happy to be well up inside the top 10 and with a straight car. We'll tune her up and have another crack at it in the next race."

Tim Edwards
Team Principal

"It's good to get the points. We have a bit of speed still to find in the cars to match the front-runners but we have an idea of what we need to work on. It was an unfortunate race for Cam. He would have been on for quite a good result if we hadn't of lost time in the pit stop. There was at least 10 seconds there that he lost. We have more of an idea now on tyre life and strategy so we'll be focussing on that".

 

Sunday

Chaz Mostert has continued his recent run of form, topping off his weekend at the Perth SuperSprint with a podium in Race 8. Starting from second place Mostert maintained his position throughout the 83 laps, displaying strong pace in hot conditions.

Teammate Mark Winterbottom was able to finish fourth after experiencing difficulties with rear grip, however was able to bolster his championship standings with another consistent result.

Cameron Waters was the only PRA car to run a three stop strategy with the hope of passing as many cars as possible in the final stint. With good pace Waters was able to pass a number of cars improving his confidence leading into the next Supercars event at Winton.

 

Drivers' View 

Mark Winterbottom - #5
Qualifying: 3rd – 54.62s
Race 8: 4th
"The car was pretty good but we struggled with rear grip for a lot of the race. We've made a lot of ground this weekend which is really positive. Changes in strategy direction, going back to sort of what we had before Phillip Island helped and has given us a good direction heading into Winton. Fourth is another strong result, I'm happy we've got some consistency going and that we're making gains so bring on the next one."

Cameron Waters - #6
Qualifying: 13th – 55.17s
Race 8: 12th

"Race 8 wasn't too bad. We did something different, split the cars up and it worked pretty well. We moved forward in the race but we had to re-use a set of tyres which cost me a lot of time. If we didn't have that we would have finished a bit further up. Even if a safety car had of come we would have been in the box seat. It was a good day with the strategy; I think it was the right call. The car's pretty quick and I think I was driving pretty well so I'm excited to go to Winton now and keep on building on what we've been doing and learn from this weekend."

Chaz Mostert - #55
Qualifying: 2nd – 54.6209s
Race 8: 2nd

"Awesome to get another podium this year. It wasn't the best weekend overall but Race 8 was pretty awesome. The boys worked pretty hard; we made some big changes with the car and got it back feeling good for qualifying, closer to what we've had for the past couple of rounds. We're starting to find a base with our car but we've got a bit more work to do yet. It was good to bag some more points and get another consistent result so I'm pretty happy."

Tim Edwards
Team Principal

"We're starting to get some consistency going throughout the team which is good. I don't think it is the two-horse race everyone seems to believe, we are right there in it and there's still a long way to go this season. The changes we made were positive and it was good to see Chaz sticking with McLaughlin for a lot of Race 8. We tried something different with Cam. If there was a safety car he would have had a fantastic result and in all honesty it was quite strange not to see one. It was good to see him passing cars and finish ahead of his qualifying position."

 

Results - Race 8
1) Scott McLaughlin – DJR Team Penske
2) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing
3) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight
4) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team
12) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing

 

Championship Points
1) Fabian Coulthard – DJR Team Penske: 802
2) Shane van Gisbergen – Triple Eight: 783
3) Jamie Whincup – Triple Eight: 780
5) Chaz Mostert – Supercheap Auto Racing: 771
6) Mark Winterbottom – The Bottle-O Racing Team: 648
9) Cameron Waters – Monster Energy Racing: 544

 

Team Championship Points
1) DJR Team Penske: 1608
2) Triple Eight: 1563
3) Prodrive Racing Australia: 1227

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