Groundhog day for White
5/9/2004 23:09 (Press Release) -
Despite a barnstorming last race drive, Matthew White yet again suffered bum luck in the reverse grid race at the final round of the Konica Minolta V8 Supercar championship at Mallala Motorsport Park today.
The Gulf Western Oils/Jayco Caravans Ford driver has time and again been dealt savage blows in the reverse grid races and had to live through bitter disappointment one more time.
Unlike earlier rounds, this stroke of ill luck was not the result of contact with a back marker but a rare mechanical failure leaving the car stuck in fourth gear.
"The car was going well and we were well positioned. We were keeping our nose clean, as you need to do in those races and she came to a sudden end," an unhappy White said after race two.
Starting the third race from 16th, White carved his way through the field to claim sixth.
"We would have been right there if that other race hadn’t happened. We sort of torched the tyres making up positions up to about eighth. After that the tyres didn’t have much left. Unlike the reverse grid races you’re passing all the fast cars because they’re there on their own merits so it takes a lot more to get past them."
The day started reasonably well for White when he finished the opening 16-lap race in fifth position and ahead of most of the drivers he was battling with for championship positions.
White went into the final round with a mathematical, if not realistic, chance of claiming the series.
"It’s a disappointing result in all championship wise. I think we were better than that. But we’re happy, the cars are reasonably straight and we’ve got next season to look forward to."
White paid tribute to 2004 champion Andrew Jones and then went on to thank all Matthew White Racing’s sponsors.
The second MWR car driven by Dean Wanless finished the final race in 14th. Wanless is now working to secure a deal that well see him back in the Konica Minolta series next year.
White’s next outing will be at the Sandown 500 and the Bathurst 1000 with the V8Supercar series leading PWR team. He will also race the Gulf Western Oils/Jayco Caravans Ford in the Konica Minolta support race for the 1000.
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