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A blown
engine less than an hour from the culmination of the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour
spoiled what was a remarkable comeback from the G & D Performance Tuning
Holden HSV GTS driven by Terry Wyhoon, David and Leigh
Mertens.
The team had
qualified a poor 17th after setting up an anticipated wet session,
but ran strongly in the first hours of the epic endurance race at Mt Panorama,
climbing to fifth outright before suddenly running out of
fuel.
“It was a
shock,” said David Mertens “as it would normally give a cough but then we would
still get two laps out of it. But this time it was dry at the top of the
mountain. We coasted down the hill and was pushed into the pits. That cost us a
lap and then we were held up by the safety car which meant a further
lap.”
The team
fought back into the top ten, despite a brake pad change but the need to
undertake a second change later plus the gear stick nob slowed their momentum.
Ultimately the car lost fluid and the engine
expired.
It was
disappointing to get so far and then for it to end, but for our first time here
with our own team it was a pleasing effort – particularly after the poor
qualifying position,” reflected Leigh Mertens at the end of the
day.
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