Fullwood ‘really happy’ with 12th in Race 2
Bryce Fullwood has led home the Brad Jones Racing squad in the second race of the Supercars Championship.
After another difficult qualifying session, all four Brad Jones Racing drivers started deep in the pack on Sunday in Bathurst.
Much-like yesterday’s race Fullwood had the pace to move forward from 20th all the way to twelfth, dicing his way through the field to get there.
It was an inspired drive from the Darwin-native that keeps him inside the top ten in the Championship.
Garage-mate Andre Heimgartner meanwhile struggled to replicate the pace he had yesterday with his crew trialing a different setup.
The R&J Batteries driver was able to avoid the carnage at the start of the race but ultimately finished in 18th.
Macauley Jones in the Pizza Hut Racing Camaro was also testing out a different strategy which made his Sunday quite difficult.
Jones took the chequered flag in 20th followed closely by Jaxon Evans.
The SCT Logistics Camaro of Evans’ had been running in the high teens until late in the race when he sustained damage in an incident.
Evans also suffered from a burnt foot and was seen by medical staff after the race for the affliction.
The BJR team will take stock over the next four weeks before heading to the Australian Grand Prix (March 21-24).
Super2
Sunday at the Mountain for BJR’s two Super2 drivers was certainly more interesting than Saturday.
Elliott Cleary in the #19 Sync Music ZB Commodore had an overnight engine change after suffering from a misfire in the first race.
Cleary had a moment in qualifying which meant the young driver started near the back of the grid but his race pace brought him all the way up to 16th.
Cody Gillis in the #9 Bowser Bean Cafe entry led him home in 15th, having a remarkable race as well having started in 20th.
The drivers certainly had an eventful weekend at Mount Panorama but both performed strongly, showing their potential for the year ahead.
Super2 will next race in Perth on May 17-19.
Supercars Quoteboard
Andre Heimgartner
Supercars driver, #8 R&J Batteries Camaro
"A bit of a disappointing day. We felt like we found something in qualifying which was positive. But the race car really struggled so that was definitely a negative. We will see what we can learn going forward to Melbourne."
Bryce Fullwood
Supercars driver, #14 Middy's Electrical Camaro
"Obviously we had a really strong day on Saturday, quali was relatively strong and the race car was really good. And then unfortunately, today, we didn't hit qualifying. I'm not really too sure why - the car felt really good. Just didn't produce a lap time. So that was a little bit disappointing for us. So we started the race 20th And, again, had a really good race car, had a few features I was managing through the race, which hampered the performance again. But to come home 12th with what I had going on, I'm really, really happy with that. I think we can hold our heads high know we have a really good race car and we just got a quali a bit further up front and we'll be well in the mix."
Macauley Jones
Supercars driver, #96 Pizza Hut Camaro
"Overall, pretty disappointing day. Qualifying we're struggling to piece a lap together. The car feels actually okay, but doesn't really produce a very fast lap time, which can be a bit confusing. The race, bloody chaotic start, sort of managed to avoid the accident off the start but we lost a bit of track position with that. And then I felt like every time we zigged, others zagged. We struggled when we weren't in clean air, and that was a big issue for us throughout the race. So I would say overall a little bit of a disappointing weekend to start the season. We need to get back to the drawing board a little bit."
Jaxon Evans
Supercars driver, #12 SCT Logistics Camaro
“It was a tough weekend for us as a team, we definitely aren’t where we want to be. But every time I get in the car I’m learning and growing. Today wasn’t really good for us at all. Difficult qualifying and then while I had some decent pace in the race, it didn’t go to plan.”
Super2 Quoteboard
Elliott Cleary
Super2 driver, #19 ZB Commodore
"Tough start to the day obviously, qualifying wasn't strong. Had a bit of an incident on the fast lap but then I think in the race we kept our nose clean made up nearly 10 positions which is good and got to get more comfortable with the car so hopefully, we can roll out stronger in Perth"
Cody Gillis
Super2 driver, #9 ZB Commodore
"It was a decent day today. Qualifying struggled once again but actually got some racing laps in today, which was good. Race pace is pretty good. We were as high as 11 four or 10 place today but had a bit of an incident on the last lap after the Safety Car but overall sort of a good end to a long weekend. Looking forward to Perth."