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Marshall digs deep at Sandown |
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Monday, 09 June 2008 |
IRWIN Racing’s Marcus Marshall has put in a strong drive during Monday’s two races at the Midas 400 at Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne.
The IRWIN Racing V8 Supercar took 24th position in race #2, before scoring 21st place in the final race of the weekend
It was a solid comeback after a tough start to the weekend where Marshall qualified 26th and failed to finish the opening race following a broken radiator.
The entire Irwin Racing team had to dig deep, but the effort was rewarded with a much-improved racecar for the Monday races.
In the final race Marshall got an excellent start and was racing mid-pack, before running wide on one turn. He fought back in the later part in the race when fading light brought an extra challenge over the closing laps.
“We finished just outside our top-20 target, but more importantly the group really hit back after a tough start to the weekend on both sides of the garage,” said Marshall.
“We are down in straight-line speed, so we had to make it up in braking and turn-in on the corners. 39 laps of that type of racing does take it out of you.
“The positive from the weekend was how the whole group pulled together after a very tough start.
“We raced with champions like Rick Kelly and held off Mark Skaife at the end. Yes they made mistakes and fell behind us, but that shows that there is so much pressure in the series and even the best drivers make mistakes.
“Before this race I’d never had to use the headlights, so I actually didn’t know how to turn them on! Then I had guys with high-beams coming from behind blinding me in the mirrors! Then to top it off some guys in darker cars turned their lights off and raced by stealth!
“I believe Darwin will be a good weekend for us. The atmosphere is excellent and I think we can continue to work better as a group and get a good result.
“We really need to be on our game from the outset at that event. I’m sure from that point we can qualify and then race strongly.
Irwin Racing lead engineer Greg Foletta was pleased with the comeback.
“Everyone worked hard and I’m sure not too many people got a lot of sleep on Saturday or Sunday nights,” said Foletta.
“However, hard work has paid off and our spirits were lifted by the end of the final race.
“Darwin is more like Perth with constant radius corners and we were happy with our pace from Perth so we are looking forward to taking that form to top-end.”
The next round of the championship is the SKYCITY Triple Crown at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway on July 4 – 6.
2008 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Round 5, Sandown International Raceway, Melbourne, VIC
Championship points after 5 of 14 rounds
1. Mark Winterbottom 1124
2. Garth Tander 1072
3. Jamie Whincup 1062
4. Rick Kelly 1028
5. Craig Lowndes 897
6. Steve Richards 839
7. James Courtney 811
8. Lee Holdsworth 760
9. Will Davison 752
10.Todd Kelly 726
24. Marcus Marshall 378
RESULTS: Round Points
1. Jamie Whincup 286
2. Mark Winterbottom 252
3. James Courtney 234
4. Shane Van Gisbergen 228
5. Russell Ingall 212
6. Craig Lowndes 186
7. Garth Tander 176
8. Todd Kelly 170
9. Steven Johnson 170
10. Rick Kelly 146
28. Marcus Marshall ! 50
RESULTS: Race Three
1. Jamie Whincup – 39 laps
2. Mark Winterbottom
3. James Courtney
4. Shane Van Gisbergen
5. Todd Kelly
6. Russell Ingall
7. Will Davison
8. Lee Holdsworth
9. Steve Richards
10. Steven Johnson
21. Marcus Marshall
RESULTS: Race Two
1. Craig Lowndes – 39 laps
2. Shane Van Gisbergen
3. Jamie Whincup
4. James Courtney
5. Steven Johnson
6. Mark Winterbottom
7. Russell Ingall
8. Todd Kelly
9. Garth Tander
10. Cameron McConville
24. Marcus Marshall – 38 laps
RESULTS: Race One
1. Jamie Whincup – 39 laps
2. Mark Winterbottom
3. Craig Lowndes
4. Russell Ingall
5! . Garth Tander
6. James Courtney
7. Rick! Kelly < br>8. Fabian Coulthard
9. Shane Van Gisbergen
10. Mark Skaife
DNF Marcus Marshall – 6 laps
RESULTS: Qualifying
1. Jamie Whincup 1:09.6987
2. Mark Winterbottom 1:10.0184
3. Will Davison 1:10.0328
4. Rick Kelly 1:10.0588
5. Fabian Coulthard 1:10.0800
6. Russell Ingall 1:10.1399
7. Steve Richards 1:10.1750
8. Todd Kelly 1:10.1754
9. Craig Lowndes 1:10.2646
10. Jason Richards 1:10.5183
26. Marcus Marshall 1:11.4351
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