POLE & FEATURE RACE WIN FOR DAVIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, 24th April, 2013.
Shae Davies again showed he was the class of the field at the second round of the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series, held last weekend at South Australia’s Mallala circuit – just one hour north of Adelaide. Despite having never previously driven on the twisting and historic 2.4k layout, Davies was quickly down to competitive times on old tyres in practice, before producing a stunning lap in qualifying to take his second consecutive pole position.
Race 1 saw Davies lead off the line before opening lap contact from behind at the Southern Hairpin saw him shuffled down the order. Thereafter he fought back to challenge for the lead, before again being spun out of third place, when a further incident saw him again sent tumbling down the order. He ultimately charged up to fifth spot at the end of 15 frustrating laps, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process, but was furious at being tipped out of a better finishing position.
“I’m pretty peed off I have to say. I made a perfect start before I got bundled off the road at turn three, then after fighting back I was nailed by Terry Wyhoon … I got penalised for the exact incident at the first round, yet here - nothing – to same I am bemused is an understatement. The car was quick but I was forever fighting my way back through the pack. What goes around comes around they say.”
Sunday was a much better day, with the Main Beach 23-year-old driving his Fernandez Motorsport Falcon to a solid second in the wet Sunday morning affair, having traded the lead with series rival Wyhoon throughout the race. Davies saved his best for last, executing a great drive from fourth (on accumulated points) grid spot, passing his way into the lead on lap seven after rocketing from fourth to second on the opening lap. He also scored the fastest lap of the race despite less than perfect conditions and continues to hold the championship points lead heading to round three in June.
“Today was great. I’d never driven in the wet in one of these cars, but I felt confident throughout and was more happy to recover to second in the morning race. It was so cold and windy that the track was very slippery and it was a struggle to warm up the tyres for the feature race, but my start was good and the car was very strong under brakes, which gave me the real confidence to push hard early. To pass Terry (Wyhoon) for the lead, cleanly and fairly, and then go on to control the remainder of the race was very satisfying, and I really learnt a lot during the day that I know I can put to good use in the future.
“Jose (team boss, Fernandez) and my engineer Geoff Slater coached me well all weekend and today was a reward for all of the team by bringing the car home at the head of the field after such a frustrating day on Saturday. Roll on the next event, which is at Winton and a track I know very well, so I’ll be pushing hard for another pole and some more race wins there.”
RESULTS: Rd 2 KUMHO TYRES V8 TOURING CARS SERIES – Mallala Motorsport Park, SA: April 19-21
NEXT RACE: Rd 3 KUMHO TYRES V8 TOURING CAR SERIES – Winton Motor Raceway, VIC: June 21-23
DAVIES WINS ON V8 DEBUT – LEADS CHAMPIONSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, 28th March, 2013.
Gold Coast driver Shae Davies enjoyed a spectacular maiden V8 Touring car outing at Sydney Motorsport Park (formerly Eastern Creek) on the weekend – claiming pole position, recording a fastest lap in one of the three races, taking a debut win … and leaving the opening with the championship points lead.
Driving his Davbridge sponsored ex-FPR Falcon for defending champion team Fernandez Motorsport, the 23- year-old Main Beach driver was quick from the outset, recording the fastest time in Friday’s practice sessions before claiming a dominant pole position on Saturday morning. Davies pole time in his stunning Lamborghini grey, carbon and flouro number 3 machine was just under a half second quicker than the next fastest time.
Race 1 presented something new for Davies, having never before made a V8 start, and while his getaway when the lights went out was reasonable, he fell back into the clutches of a couple of more experienced drivers who flew off the line. He then copped a hit at Turn 2 and dropped back to fourth. A passing lunge into the slowest corner on the 3.93-kilometre circuit saw light contact made, but officials deemed it excessive and a dubious penalty was applied that saw Shae have to execute a pit lane drive through, dropping to the rear of the field as a result. He fought back to 15th by race end, but was furious at the harsh penalty that he’d been given.
“It seems like a big penalty for questionable contact and I was merely filling a gap that was initially there, and despite the light contact made I was given the drive-thru. I had hoped a post-race assessment may have been made and with the race being just nine laps long I was never going to recover.”
Sunday was a far better day with Davies charging through from 15th to claim fourth at the chequered flag in race two and he lined up in sixth spot for the final 12 lap Sunday race. An excellent start saw him up to fourth by Turn 2 before picking off another spot to finish lap one in third place. Thereafter, Shae enjoyed a spirited dice with the Falcons of Terry Wyhoon and race one winner Justin Garioch. For lap after lap it was all action and with the field bunched up after a late race Safety Car it came down to a two lap race to the wire. Davies started the final lap in third, moving into second spot at the second corner, then went side by side for three corners before passing Wyhoon for a stunning debut win.
“Today was a great day – a great day. The car was fast and I just had to try and keep the tyres from cooking, but I was well-coached by Jose (Fernandez, team owner) and my engineer Geoff Slater. That last race battle was intense and after Terry and I had gone door to door I just had to make the pass into four … it stuck, and I was through. To come back from yesterday’s dramas and take the win, plus the championship lead is awesome. I know there were some incidents behind me too and they helped us, but we have had the speed all weekend. I am just over the moon for the whole team and can’t wait for the next round in South Australia. We will test prior to then and I’m sure I will only find more speed in driving these ex-V8 Supercars. Unreal, just unreal.”
NEXT RACE: Rd 2 KUMHO TYRES V8 TOURING CAR SERIES – Mallala, SA: April 19-21
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