JAKE CAMILLERI AND SCOTT NICHOLAS have bounced back from potential race-ending damage to win their class for Grand Prix Motorsport at the Dial Before you Dig Sandown 500, held at the weekend.
Split over two, 250km legs but scored as one race with a long break in the middle, the Grand Prix Mazda 3 MPS was positioned inside the top four and on the lead lap when the first leg of the race was restarted with one lap remaining Saturday afternoon.
Unfortunately, Nicholas ran off the circuit and made contact with the tyre barrier at Dandenong road in the hectic dash to the flag whilst trying to lift the little Mazda up the order ahead of Sunday’s deciding leg.
The car ended the leg beached in the sand with light damage to the front corner after the contact with the tyres.
With just 15 minutes of time to repair and service the car before parc ferme’ conditions began Saturday night, the team worked flat out and ensured the car was ready for Sunday’s continuation – where they would start from the back and one lap behind after not taking the flag.
Strong drives from both Nicholas and Camilleri, and slick pit work from the Grand Prix Mazda team dragged them back into contention and – after a race-long battle with the fellow class C-contending BMW – finished seventh outright and first in class to continue the teams’ banner season in the still new 2011 Mazda 3 MPS.
“Scott was doing a great job and running fourth but he knew that the only way to get past the four-wheel drive cars was under brakes where our car was stronger,” Camilleri explained post-race.
“Unfortunately it didn’t quite work out and we had to go from the back on Sunday because we didn’t quite complete the first leg. It was just one of those things and to be at that point and contending for a top three showed how well our Saturday had gone up to then.
“In the end we were still able to come through on Sunday and finish the race seventh outright and get the class win which was a great result.
“The team did a great job and the new format for this weekend really allowed them to get involved and play a major role in the race. The pit stops were outstanding and the strategy went to plan and in the end we were able to have an awesome race with the BMW 130 for the class win.
“Even with a couple of issues it was a great weekend and a great event and I’m really proud of the whole team for their efforts.”
Team Manager Graeme Murray said the results showed the continued improvement of performance from the Mazda 3 MPS, which continues to punch above its weight in the Australian Manufacturers Championship ranks.
“We’re still learning the car and making it better but the weekend went really well,” he explained.
“We lost time in the pit stops because we were pitted between two class A cars. They would come in and have to change four tyres but we only needed to change one and our boys were so quick that we would be finished but get boxed in by the cars either side of us. That cost us some time.
“Jake and Scott also reported some issues with fourth gear on Sunday that, in the end, they had to drive around. To work through the issues we had and still come away with the class victory and a really strong position in the outright championship means it was a good weekend.
“We’ll go back and give the car a complete freshen up before the final race and see if we can keep on going and knocking off the Mitsubishi’s at the front.”
The next race of the VIP Petfoods Australian Manufacturers Championship and Australian Production Endurance Championship will be the Eastern Creek 8 Hour, scheduled for December 8-10.
Grand Prix Motorsport would like to thank Castrol, Esanda, Allianz and Grand Prix Mazda for their continued support.
Grand Prix Motorsport – 2011 Season To Date
Australian Manufacturers Championship – Round 1 (Phillip Island)
Qualified: 2nd (1st in Class C)
Race 1 (20 laps): 5th (2nd in Class C)
Race 2 (20 Laps): 2nd (1st in Class C)
Australian Manufacturers Championship – Round 2 (Phillip Island)
Australian Production Endurance Championship – Round 1
Qualified: 2nd (1st in Class C)
Race (6 Hours): 2nd (1st in Class C)
Australian Manufacturers Championship – Round 3 (Morgan Park)
Qualified: 5th (1st in Class C)
Race 1 (1 Hour): 4th (1st in Class C)
Race 2 (1 Hour): 4th (1st in Class C)
Australian Manufacturers Championship – Round 4 (Sandown Raceway)
Australian Production Endurance Championship – Round 2
Qualified: 7th (1st in Class C)
Race 1 (500km): 7th (1st in Class C)
