Holden Racing Team driver James Courtney has scored the first podium for the official factory team finishing 2nd in Race 2 at the Clipsal 500, with team mate Garth Tander storming home in 4th.

Today’s racing schedule consisted of a practice session and two 125km races around the street circuit of Adelaide. Friday’s qualifying sessions set up the starting grid for today’s races with Courtney starting 5th and 3rd and Tander 15th and 11th.

The start of Race 1 was delayed after car #33 caught on fire and hit the wall during the formation lap. When the race eventually got underway Courtney held his position over the opening laps while Tander moved up two places to 13th.

A problem undoing the wheel nut during the pit stop caused car #22 to lose valuable time and drop a number of places, allowing his team mate to move ahead in the standings.

In the closing laps the yellow flags were out and the safety car called after Davison stopped on the track. The race was restarted with just one lap remaining and Tander was the first HRT car past the chequered flag in 7th, Courtney was three places behind in 10th.

It was the final race of the day where all the action took place, with the HRT drivers managing to avoid the carnage that unfolded around them. After overtaking Lowndes and Whincup on lap 26, Courtney was not troubled as he cruised home in 2nd place.

With temperatures at the track hovering near 40 degrees, Tander kept his cool in the extreme heat and stormed his way from 11th to 4th, finishing just shy of a podium position.