Ipswich SuperSprint: Sunday Race Wrap
Sunday 24th July 2016
RACE 17

Race Distance: 200kms
Laps: 65
Compulsory Pit Stops: One – must change at least two tyres and/or add fuel
Tyre Allocation: Soft tyre compound only
Weather: Dry, sunny, and 22 degrees

HRT Race Highlights:
• Qualifying positions were similar to yesterday’s race with Courtney again starting in 11th and Tander 23rd.
• The HRT boys were quick off the start line and both drivers made up places on the opening lap. Some of their competitors opted to make stops on the first lap, improving HRT’s positions further in the queue.
• Courtney was handed an early pit lane penalty (PLP) for contact on car #17, which he completed on lap 4. This put him back to 22nd, meanwhile Tander had charged up to 15th.
• Tander took track position over Courtney which meant he also commanded boom priority and was the first of the red cars to pit for fresh tyres and fuel.
• The Car #22 crew decided to run a longer first stint and it was one of the last cars to complete its first stop. This came on lap 19.
• With 40 laps and a second pit stop still to go Courtney, showed good car speed. But the earlier PLP had hurt his race and he was back in 25th, five seconds off the next car.
• Tander battled through the middle stint and slowly progressed passed the slower cars ahead. On lap 28 he found himself swiftly moving past car #8 into 12th position. He was on the charge and just a few laps later was up to 11th.
• On lap 35 car #17 found itself in the wall (for the second time this weekend) and teams scrambled as it was thought the safety car would be called. Car #17, however, made its way out of the gravel under its own steam, so the HRT stayed out and race on.
• One lap later Tander was in for his second stop. Out of sync with pit stops Courtney carried on with his crew mapping out their own race strategy.
• Car #22’s final stop came 10 laps later and he re-joined the race in 23rd. With 18 laps to go, every car was for position and valuable championship points. Tander, meanwhile, was 16th with just one car left in front to complete its final stop.
• Courtney wasn’t holding back and with his fresh set of rubber was making up as much ground as he could. He was the fastest car on track, clocking the quickest lap of the race with 1.10.4685’s, and soon found himself one place behind his teammate.
• Courtney was one second a lap quicker than the cars ahead and was soon past Tander and looking for the next car in the queue. It looked as though Courtney would salvage a good result after a disappointing start to the race.
• However, with just four laps remaining Courtney suspected a broken steering arm when he clashed with another car he was trying to overtake. He was forced to the team’s garage and did not return to the race.
• Tander passed the chequered flag in 13th, a massive 10 places up from his starting position.