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Natrad Racing Clean Sweep At Queensland To Rejoin Championship Fight |
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Tuesday, 29 May 2007 |
NATRAD Racing driver Bryce Washington has closed to within four points of the Australian GT Championship points lead following a hat-trick of race wins at Queensland Raceway today.
Washington, 22, drove his Natrad Racing Lamborghini Gallardo to three commanding race victories today – his third, fourth and fifth in a row this season – after taking pole position by almost a full second yesterday.
Washington’s 500hp V10 Gallardo beat Danish ace Allan Simonsen to the
line in race one by just over two seconds before holding on to win race
two despite a late race scare – when the cars gearshift selection
refused to work – when David Wall closed to within three tenths at the
line.
Rebounding well, the Natrad driver went on to win the third race by
four seconds to complete a perfect weekend that also included a new
Queensland Raceway GT Championship lap record – a storming 1m11.6923s –
in the first race.
At the mid way point of the Australian GT Championship Washington now trails series leader Simonsen by just four points.
“It’s been a fantastic weekend,” Washington said.
”Qualifying was fantastic. I was able to get a clear lap and put a good
lap together. It was a great feeling but I was a bit surprised that
Allan and David weren’t closer to us.
”Race two was quite dramatic at the end because the car ran into
problems with the Gear Selection and the ABS. I was taking it pretty
easy lapping some cars and the thing just slowed up. Fortunately I was
able to bring the car home in front which was great.
”In the third race I went out hard early to build up as big a margin as possible in case the problem came back.
”It didn’t and I got the win which is brilliant.” He enthused.
Washington said that he was similarly pleased to right back in the championship fight at the half-way point of the series.
”Obviously the year didn’t start brilliantly for us,” Bryce said.
”At A1GP the Porsche wasn’t competitive and at Clipsal we were still working out the Lambo and trying to get it on the money.
“At Bathurst it all came together and from there it’s been fantastic.
The guys at Natrad Racing have done an awesome job so all credit to
them.
“There is still more to come from the car, I don’t think we’ve got the
most out if it, so the second half of the year should be great.” He
warned.
The Australian GT Championship will take a two-month hiatus over the
winter before returning to action at the high speed Phillip Island
Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, in late August.
Washington will be in action next in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship at Hidden Valley Raceway – in Darwin – this June.
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