STEERING PROBLEMS PUT AN END TO SBR’S NIGHTMARE WEEKEND IN TOWNSVILLE

STEERING PROBLEMS PUT AN END TO SBR’S NIGHTMARE WEEKEND IN TOWNSVILLE

Topics: Dunlop Townsville 400

STEERING PROBLEMS PUT AN END TO SBR’S NIGHTMARE WEEKEND IN TOWNSVILLE

Stone Brothers Racing
July 12, 2009

Steering rack issues caused heartbreak in SBR’s garage today when both cars were forced to retire from the 200km race by Lap 16. Both the SP Tools Racing and IRWIN Racing Falcon had steering racks replaced after this morning’s qualifying session, the change to car #9 cutting it uncomfortably close to the start of the 72 lap race.

A crack in the steering rack on car #9 was noticed just twenty minutes before the race start. The SBR team worked at full speed to replace the part and managed to make it out just in time for van Gisbergen to start from his qualifying position of 7th on the grid.

It was another tough day in Qualifying for Davison when he was unable to match the times of the front runners due to another broken steering rack. His quickest time of the session placed him 18th on the starting grid. The same issue with steering also put a damper on yesterday’s race for the IRWIN Racing Falcon when Alex found himself out of the car on Lap 63.

Paul Forgie – Engineer Car #9

“Although today didn’t go to plan for us it cannot be forgotten that the boys did a fantastic job on building the new SP Tools Racing FG. To start both races in the top ten on its first weekend out is a full credit to the team at SBR.”

Shane van Gisbergen – Driver, SP Tools Racing Car #9

“There is not much to say about the race today. I was happy with where we qualified and it’s a shame we were unable to build on that in the race.

“I guess we will wait for Sandown to come around now as the next chance for us to redeem ourselves.”

Alex Davison – Driver, IRWIN Racing Car #4

“Obviously today was major disappointment for not only the IRWIN crew but for everyone in the SBR team. It’s pretty frustrating when part failures let you down not only once but twice like that over a race weekend.

“I have complete faith that we can come back from this, I know the Sandown circuit pretty well so I am confident we can come up with something good there.”