Wilson Brothers Racing Latest News
07.05.2010
Seven Seconds Short of Victory
A mere seven seconds late leaving pit lane is all that stood between Wilson Brothers Racing receiving a crushing penalty and the outright victory for the round at the third round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit last weekend.
The team’s Subaru WRX Sti driven by Lee Castle and Kurt Wimmer finished second on the road in both of the twin-hour long races, but a post-race penalty for leaving the pits seven seconds after the 40-minute mark in the first race dropped the team down the order.
“Us and every other team always took this 40 minute rule as 'you had to be in the pits by this time,' which is what we have done on many occasions previously,” Cameron Wilson, team manager said.
“Unfortunately the new race director had a different read on the ruling, and it’s something that everyone now has to live with.”
Wilson Brothers Racing wasn’t alone, as Inky Tulloch in the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Lancer Evo was also docked two-laps for leaving the pits too late in the opening heat.
The weekend started out strongly for the team, with the car two-seconds under its own lap record in the first practice session, with the promise of more speed to come.
However, engine woes in the second session forced the team to go back to the spare unit, which essentially was four-old engines hastily conjured together prior to the meeting.
The crew from there on in had a workout on their hands, with the engine down on horsepower, and 2.5 seconds slower in qualifying than practice.
Castle took the start of the opening race, driving smartly before handing over to Wimmer late in the running.
Wimmer then had his work cut out keeping the BWM 335i of Garry Holt and Ryan McLeod behind, a feat he narrowly pulled off.
From provisionally finishing the race in second place, after the post-race penalty, the crew were classified in eighth.
Disappointed with the outcome of the first race, Wimmer sat out the second event, allowing Castle to fly solo for the entire hour.
While other teams struggled with tyre issues on the high speed circuit, Castle pushed all the way, setting times that were well under his qualifying lap time, as well as his old lap record.
A slick pit stop once again elevated the crew, with Castle passing Jake Camilleri (Mazda 3 MPS) and McLeod in the closing stages, with Castle coming out on top after a cracking last lap duel with the BMW.
If there was one more lap, Castle would have passed struggling race leading Inky Tulloch, with the final margin of victory less than two-seconds.
“It was an awesome effort by the boys, Benn (Wilson) and John (Desmond) were on fire all weekend long in the pits,” Wilson said.
“While we were down on horsepower in the races, Lee and Kurt did a brilliant job, and to be under lap record pace with a ‘bitza’ engine is testament to how good the overall package of the Subaru WRX Sti is.
“The next challenge we have is the Australian Six Hour at Eastern Creek in July, and we’ll be back bigger and better than ever for that one.”
Wilson Brothers Racing would like to acknowledge the continued support of Gold Coast Indoor Hire Karts, Castrol, Racing Logic, Mercury Motorsport, EcuTek, Ingear Industries, Elan Mens Salons, RLS Data & Electrical, Gametraders Townsville, John Muller Tyres Plus, and Subaru Sti Australia for their assistance in team's Australian Manufacturers Championship efforts.
Wilson Brothers Racing- Racing for a Cure
Wilson Brothers Racing is proud to support Cure Cancer Australia, an organisation that has been operating in Australia for 44 years to support young researchers at the beginning of their careers across the Cancer spectrum. Wilson Brothers Racing is helping to raise the profile of this fantastic organisation through their various motorsport activities around Australia. For more information, catch up with the team trackside.
For more information regarding Wilson Brothers Racers and hi-resolution images, please contact Mark Walker on 0407 138745 or email media@wilsonbrothersracing.com