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Glenfords Racing Feel Highs And Lows At Bathurst Debut |
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Glenfords Racing's debut at Bathurst featured a series of highs before an unlucky end brought about an early finish to a promising weekend.
The Paul Cruickshank led team finished 22nd on the mountain after running well inside the top 20 earlier in the day.
The team's first practice session at Bathurst's famous Mount Panorama circuit saw the Glenfords-AEG Falcon set the 22nd fastest time with Marcus Marshall behind the wheel with a 2.10.7036.
Glenfords Racing Carrera Cup regular and V8 Supercar co-driver Jonathon Webb also gained valuable experience behind the wheel of the Glenfords-AEG Falcon in his first drive around the 6.213km circuit in a V8 Supercar and continually improved his times.
In Saturday's qualifying, Marshall put the Ford Falcon in 28th position with a time of 2:10.7325.
Starting on the grid for the first time in a V8 Supercar at Bathurst, Marshall made a strong and clean start before a safety car was brought out when race favourite Mark Skaife crashed out of the race.
The race restarted and the Glenfords-AEG Ford settled into a solid race pace, running 26th after 26 laps when another safety car was brought out, giving the team the ideal opportunity to pit for fuel, tyres and a driver change.
When the safety car pulled in for the restart co-driver Webb was running 22nd in a great result for the team through a brilliant stop and strategy.
Webb settled quickly and in his first V8 drive in the great race set consistent two-minute, 13 second laps and rose into the top 20.
A near perfect first stint from Webb saw him bring the car back to Marshall in perfect condition and in 11th position.
Pitting on lap 60 a safety car was brought out as Webb came into pit lane as the pit crew completed a slick stop for fuel and tyres, while the drivers also changed.
The safety car's timing couldn't have been worse for the team, who had not put a foot wrong all day, and the lead cars were allowed to line up behind only a handful of cars including Marshall, leaving them vulnerable of being lapped despite entering the pits comfortably on the lead lap.
On the restart Marshall, the lead car went past the Glenfords-AEG Falcon just as another safety car was brought out, unluckily leaving the Marshall a lap down behind the safety car, while those just in front of the lead car were able to join the pack on the lead lap.
With strong speed on the track, the team remained confident of a strong finish for the race and a top fifteen was well and truly on the cards.
However, the unlucky run continued when Marshall, again abiding by race rules and allowing the lead cars to pass, was struck from behind from Dean Canto at turn four, causing significant damage to the number 20 car.
Although giving room for the field to pass at the time, the incident left the team with a significant repair job.
In an impressive display for those on hand, the Glenfords pit crew skilfully replaced the power steering rack, front bar, secondary pipes, front spoiler and then the front left upright with precision and speed and had the Glenfords Racing Falcon back on the road in 23rd position, but a number of laps down.
Marshall continued to push for the finish line and as others retired from the race, the Glenfords team climbed a number of spots.
However, on lap 114 the Glenfords-AEG Falcon came to grief heading up the mountain after the cutting when the car appeared to hit oil on the track, sending Marshall into the wall before he had a chance to save the car.
Despite the team's disappointing end to their first Bathurst 1000, the team showed strong form and a cohesive crew that can get the job done when required, traits that will hold the team in good position for their next trip to the mountain.
MARCUS MARSHALL "The first practice was a good session and the car got better and better as the sessions went on and the boys did some great work that will help in the race."
"The guys did a great job on the car and even in the first few laps I could feel that we had a strong car for the race."
"Jonno (Jonathon Webb) did a great job in his first drive here but we got struck with some bad luck with the Safety Car and then getting turned around by Cato."
"At the end I don't know what happened, I came through out of the cutting like I had every other time and the car just gave away.I'm not sure yet wether it was the oil on the track or something else but the car had been running great so it is a big disappointment for the team."
JONATHON WEBB "That was a great experience and it was a pretty tough day with the Porsche race earlier but I was really happy with my drive."
"Things didn't go our way as the race went on but I'm just really thankful to the whole team for the effort they've put in and for giving me this opportunity to race at Bathurst."
"I can't wait to do it again!"
PAUL CRUICKSHANK "Everything leading up to the race was going perfectly to plan, the race started well and we were running strong well positioned in the well inside the top twenty at our second stop which was a great effort by the team but we couldn't get out in front of the Safety Car and then consequently we went down a lap just as another one came out which hurt us."
"It was great to finally bring our team here and today shows just how hard this place can be.you need to have luck on your side which we didn't today but everything was working really well in our team which is a pleasing thing."
"We've got a lot of work to do to turn around for Indy in under two weeks so we need to focus on that now."
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 13 December 2006 )
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