The Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney finished third in today’s first 100km race for the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 at Queensland Raceway.

Courtney delivered a pair of strong qualifying performances earlier this morning, posting the third and seventh quickest times respectively in each of the 15-minute sessions.

In the opening laps of today’s first 32-lap sprint, Courtney held firm as the field eventually settled following the initial jostle for position. It was a relatively uneventful race at the sharp end, Courtney maintaining third place to take a well-deserved podium at the conclusion of Race 23.

Starting seventh for today’s second 100km battle, Courtney started well but dropped back to ninth place on lap 9, running wide due to oil on the circuit from another car. Unfortunately, his day did not improve with the car #22 pilot experiencing a tyre failure that ultimately put him out of contention.

Courtney’s HRT teammate, Garth Tander, was unable to break into the top 10 during qualifying registering the 15th and 19th quickest times in this morning’s qualifying runs.

Getting off to a great start in the first race of the day, Tander quickly elevated himself through the field with skill and determination. By lap 4, Tander was 10th and in the midst of an intense battle for position.

As the race moved past the half-way point, the 2007 Champion was searching hard to find a way past the factory Fords of Davison and Winterbottom, Tander passing Winterbottom at one stage before slotting behind the Ford runner. He took the chequered flag just outside the top 10 in 11th place.

Like Courtney, Tander also fell foul of a tyre issue that forced him into pit lane on lap 19. After re-joining the race Tander continued to circulate to eventually finish 21st. The tyre problems also affected a number of other teams and debris is suspected to have caused the issues.

The 2013 V8 Supercars Championship continues from Winton Motor Raceway in four weeks’ time (23-25 August).