Wilson set for a dramatic finish only to be let down with fuel problems
14/8/2004 15:07 (Press Release) -
Today’s 100 lap race started today without incident, with Garth Tander leaping to the front ahead of pole sitter Craig Baird by the first corner. Both Team Betta Electrical Fords starting at the rear of the field, Radisich in car #88 from position 32, whilst Wilson started from pit lane.
By lap 4 the Triple Eight Team brought Radisich in for a lightning tyre change with Wilson also pitting on the following lap for his tyre stop, returning just ahead of the safety car entering the circuit.
With the race restarting again on lap 7, both Team Betta Electrical Fords were languishing near the back of the field with Radisich holding down position 22 and Wilson further back in 30th spot by lap 17.
Position gains were achieved by Wilson and Radisich on lap 34 when Winterbottom left the circuit on turn four, requiring the safety car to enter the circuit.
This gave six cars the opportunity to pit for tyres and fuel, allowing Radisich to climb up into 12th. Spot with Wilson slotting into 18th position.
Wilson in car #888 entered the pits to take on fuel on lap 38, returning to the circuit in 21st. spot whist Radisich was circulating in 9th position.
Lap 44 saw Radisich limp to the pits with a flat tyre, dropping ten positions before returning to the circuit after the tyre change.
The safety car entered the circuit yet again on lap 49 after Paul Weel in car #16 left the circuit on turn four.
Wilson continued to push the pace, now in 6th position with Bowe, Ambrose, Kelly & Murphy ahead of him.
Lap 54 saw Mark Skaife leave the circuit and park his car for quite a number of laps, before returning to the circuit later under safety car conditions.
Lap 60 saw a coming together between Ambrose and Bowe ending with Ambrose parking his car in the infield until the next opportunity arose when the safety car came out onto the circuit - Bowe being given a drive through penalty as a result of the incident.
This situation brought about the elevation of Wilson in the #888 Ford to 4th. spot.
With only seven laps remaining, Wilson and Longhurst collided, forcing Wilson off the circuit, loosing valuable placings.
By lap 97 Radisich was holding down 19th position with Wilson back in 27th spot and battling fuel pressure problems, which finally put him out of the race just several laps from the finish line.
The rapid race pace continued to take its toll on the leaders with Murphy, who had led the race for quite some period, dropping back through the front runners with what appeared to be coolant spilling from the car with just three laps still to cover in the race.
Meanwhile the battle up front continued with Cameron McConville putting pressure on Rick Kelly in the final laps, finally making a lunge down the inside of Kelly on the second last turn of the final lap to come through and win the round in an exciting finale, to what will be remembered as possibly the most memorable round of the series so far this season.
With Marcos Ambrose dropping important points in this round, Jason Bright now has a 5 point lead over Steven Richards in the series championship going into round 8 at Oran Park in three weeks time, Marcos Ambrose now sits in forth position behind Rick Kelly who sits third on the Championship ladder.
Paul Radisich now sits in 11th position with 646 points on the points table, with Max Wilson back in 24th position with 504 points.
A dejected Wilson was clearly disappointed with the outcome for the Team saying - “It was pretty tough out there, with a lot of very close racing and I received a few hits to the rear of the car, it was full on for the entire race”.
“The Team tried very hard today, but again it wasn’t our day. The car was going fine until those last few laps when I encountered the fuel pressure problem and then it was all over for me, it’s very disappointing really”.
Radisich too was disappointed not to finish higher on the leader board – “It was an interesting race run at a fast pace for the entire 100 laps”.
“I just couldn’t make the headway I needed to make any impression on the cars ahead of me”.
“The car just didn’t seem to have the legs required to catch those ahead of me”
“I guess we have to put this round behind us and now and focus on round 8 at Oran Park in a few weeks time” - commented Radisich.
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