Motorsport Recap: Supercar victory and Carrera Cup podiums.
Australia
Ryan Wood has claimed his first Supercars pole and victory in a forceful performance at the Perth Super 440 but failed to take home maximum points thanks to technical problems and a Sunday smash. Wood started the weekend in sizzling form, qualifying second to teammate Chaz Mostert by just 0.084 seconds to set up a Walkinshaw Andretti United front-row lockout for race 1 of the weekend. But the best was yet to come from Woody, who went one better in the subsequent qualifying session to storm to pole position for race 2 with a dominant 0.258-second advantage over the field.
It was an emotional moment for the 21-year-old in just his 37th start. “That was a really special day in Perth — first pole, first win. I just can’t thank our team, my sponsors, my family and everyone that’s gotten me to this moment enough. It’s been pretty emotional; it’s a day I’ll remember forever.” - Ryan Wood
Matt Payne was lucky to clinch a second place podium in Sunday’s race. Few drivers went on a rollercoaster quite like Matt Payne in the Perth finale, with fuel troubles and a well-timed Safety Car leading to a mixed day. The Penrite Racing driver fell just 0.5s of a third consecutive Sunday win, missing out to championship leader Broc Feeney in a grandstand finish. Payne emerged second during a late Safety Car, caused by an engine failure for Erebus Motorsport rookie Cooper Murray. Payne is 123 points behind Feeney heading to Darwin on June 20-22.
Asia
Marco Giltrap joined Brock Gilchrist with the Team Porsche New Zealand x Earl Bamber Motorsport team in Sepang for a drive in Carrera Cup Asia. The endurance weekend involved three races, two sprints and a 45-minute finale on Sunday. The racing was tough in the last race with hot temperatures and an early red flag to the race made conditions hard for the driver. Giltrap secured two P2 podium finishes then a P5 in the endurance race. Gilchrist had two P5 finishes and a P7 in the 45-minute endurance.
Marco Giltrap will be on track next weekend in Darwin for Carrera Cup Australia. Brock Gilchrist will be racing in the North Island Endurance Series at Hampton Downs the next two weekends before Carrera Cup Asia heads to Thailand.
North America
Shane van Gisbergen had another top 20 with a P18 result at Michigan - FireKeepers Casino 400 oval race on Monday. SVG had qualified P26 so found his rhythm to make moves up the field. Shane is making progress and getting more confident on the oval tracks. The NASCAR series heads to Mexico City for a street race this weekend, being back on a street circuit should play into Shane’s strength.
