Tough day for the Holden Racing Team

The Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander and Nick Percat have finished today’s 300km race for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 in 18th place.

After Tander set the fastest time in this morning’s 30-minute qualifying run, car #2 started from the second row of the grid following the re-shuffle of the top order at the conclusion of the top 10 shoot-out.

Tander took the reins for the start of today’s 102-lap battle and got off the line well. After an initial jostle for position, the 2007 Champion found himself in first place on lap four and with great race pace he began to break away from the field.

The Safety Car was called onto the track on lap 13 and Tander entered pit lane. HRT teammate, Nick Percat took over the driving duties and re-joined the race in 15th place. Percat circulated consistently and with other competitors making their scheduled stops, the car #2 co-pilot took the race lead on lap 34.

After another pit stop and Safety Car intervention followed on lap 41, Percat circulated mid-pack before Tander regained control on lap 55. Unfortunately, their HRT VF Commodore stalled on the exit of the pit box and would not re-start.

The crew worked frantically to diagnose the problem and were eventually able to re-start the factory Holden Supercar. However despite their best efforts, too much time and track position had been lost and the Tander/Percat entry finished 18th.

On the other side of the garage, teammates James Courtney and Greg Murphy also showed great speed in qualifying to earn a front row start alongside Lowndes who set the fastest time in this morning’s shoot-out.

Murphy was in control for the start of the race and was competitive from the outset. Determined to push forwards, Murphy claimed second position on lap 8 with the HRT Commodores 1-2 on the road.

Forced to double stack at the first stop, Murphy re-joined the race down the order and well within the battle pack. Running through the chicanes on the back section of the Gold Coast street circuit, car #1 made heavy contact with the rear of car #22 firing Murphy into the tyre bundle. The impact was significant and Murphy limped back to pit lane – their race was done.

The Holden Racing Team will now work through the night to repair car #22 ahead of qualifying tomorrow morning at 10:55am followed by the second 300km race of the weekend which starts at 1:45pm.