Day of difficulty sparks fresh hunger for Bathurst

Rod Nash Racing endured a tough day at Phillip Island, shouldering a variety of issues over the course of the race until the car was ultimately sidelined on lap 80 when wall contact was made following a brush with track debris.

The #55 Bottle-O Commodore experienced a difficult start to the 113 lap race with vibrations leading the crew to suspect a problem with the tail shaft. The car was brought into the pits before the vibration could escalate to a major issue and the tail shaft was replaced. D’Alberto returned to the track a considerable number of laps down on the rest of the field but ploughed onwards, determined to get the most from the day.

Bargwanna and D’Alberto weren’t to be weighed down by the set-back and the team settled in to clock good lap times amidst changing track conditions. The wind remained a constant force for the duration of the race with a pattern of rain moving across the track in the latter stages to provide an added element for teams to contend with.

Misfortune paid another unwelcome visit when debris on the track caused D’Alberto to crash into the wall, putting a swift end to the team’s race on lap 80. It was a crushing end to a day where persistence didn’t pay up with a race result.

Despite the drama it was clear that both drivers had developed a good feel for the car during the Phillip island race that will serve them well when racing resumes at Bathurst in October. The team will reflect upon the challenges thrown at them in today’s race to find a stronger position for Round 10. Bargwanna has a wealth of experience of the Bathurst circuit, having a Bathurst win to his credit in 2000.

Copyright © Rod Nash Racing 2008

Click here to open a Flash gallery of photos taken at Phillip Island.