The Phillip Island Wrap

Rod Nash Racing endured a challenging weekend at Phillip Island. The team enjoyed a promising day on Saturday where Bargwanna and D’Alberto finished in 8th and 27th position. Hopes for a move forward during the endurance race on Sunday were dashed after track debris sent the car off track, spelling an end to the race after 80 hard fought laps.

The round began on Saturday where both drivers were presented with the opportunity to qualify for their own respective races with Bargwanna set to contest Race 1 and D’Alberto set to follow in Race 2. Bargwanna was first up, qualifying in 22nd position. D’Alberto managed to skim down the time slightly in his qualifying session to qualify in 21st position with a lap of 1:34.8822.

Bargwanna got away to a great start in Race 1, bustling through the field in the opening lap to circulate in 17th. His progress was made despite the presence of a strong wind, which affected the dynamics of the cars and caused trouble for unwary drivers. Bargwanna continued his upward climb to find 8th position by lap 11, which he comfortably held through the closing laps of the race. Bargwanna had delivered a tidy race and managed to make up a lot of ground within a relatively small number of laps.

D’Alberto was on familiar territory behind the wheel of the #55 Bottle-O Commodore for Race 2 and was handed the additional challenge of completing the team’s compulsory pitstop during the race. Teams were given the choice of completing their compulsory pit stop in either of the two races to further build upon the strategic element of the race round.

D’Alberto performed a good start to the race, finding speed early on to start an upwards climb. The circuit forced drivers to fight hard for grip and not long into the race D’Alberto took a brief detour off track, quickly correcting the car and continuing onwards. The team pitted on lap 7 and it became increasingly difficult for D’Alberto to find a passing opportunity. D’Alberto finished the race in 27th position having driven solidly to develop a good feel of the track for Sunday’s endurance race.

On Sunday 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 Sunday’s endurance 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

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