The Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney and Garth Tander have finished in sixth and 10th place respectively after a huge storm ended Race 37 at the Sydney 500.

With Courtney positioned fifth and Tander ninth for the start of today’s second 125km sprint, the grid formed under darkening skies and threatening conditions.

The race was hectic from the outset but both HRT drivers drew on their experience with Courtney moving one spot up the order to be fourth, while Tander skilfully picked his way through the pack to claim sixth on lap 15.

At that point, the heavens opened and the scramble for wet weather tyres followed. With the conditions becoming increasingly dangerous, the safety car was called with the field assembling in pit lane shortly after.

Competition was suspended while heavy rain drenched the Homebush street-circuit and unfortunately the weather did not clear with the race finishing behind the safety car.

Earlier today, both Tander and Courtney endured a tough qualifying session with both HRT drivers falling foul of a premature end to qualifying for Race 36, courtesy of a Lowndes initiated red flag.

Starting from 21st and 22nd on the grid, both drivers gained multiple places with Tander taking the chequered flag 10th with teammate Courtney 11th.