Bundy Red Racing’s Fabian Coulthard and Andrew Thompson did not have Extra Smooth days in Bahrain for the first race of the Gulf Air Desert 400 in Bahrain.
Coulthard’s #24 Bundy Red Commodore was ‘hit from pillar to post’ in turn four on the opening lap, while Thompson had to avoid a first lap melee at turn 10, both losing considerable time and ground in the 200km race.
Coulthard battled a severe understeer issue with his car but came home to finish 17th, while Thompson ran a long second stint before his car came on strong in the third and final stint to finish 22nd.
Reigning V8 champ Jamie Whincup won the race in his Holden Commodore from Ford’s Mark Winterbottom with Whincup’s team-mate, Craig Lowndes third – the win Whincup’s third straight to start the season.
The Gulf Air Desert 400 concludes today with a 20 minute all-in qualifying session followed by another 37 lap, 200km race.
Fabian Coulthard, #24 Bundaberg Red Racing Holden Commodore VE:
“I got battered from pillar to post at the start in turn four – I think Bargs got me and sent the Bundy Red Commodore into the boonies! It wasn’t the best start to the race... I battled with bad understeer right the way through and wasn’t able to brake where I wanted. If you’re slow mid corner you’re slow into it and venerable. I did the best with what I had on the day.”
Andrew Thompson, #10 Bundaberg Racing Holden Commodore VE:
“Like Fabian, I got caught up in an incident, mine on turn 10 where a few cars were getting together and I had to go out wide to miss everything. I lost all the gain I’d made on the start and dropped back to nearly last. I settled in and tried to find a happy pace. Our middle stint was average and maybe we should have pitted early for the second stop. From there our last run was good and we made up time, but we’d lost too much time earlier. The car was better balanced on the last run, so hopefully we can transfer that over to qualifying tomorrow and have a better result all round.”
2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, Rd 2 – Gulf Air Desert 400 (Race 3)
1. Jamie Whincup, TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE
2. Mark Winterbottom, Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon Ford Falcon FG
3. Craig Lowndes, TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE
4. Garth Tander, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
5. Shane Van Gisbergen, SP Tools Racing Ford Falcon FG
6. James Courtney, Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon FG
7. Russell Ingall, Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE
8. Will Davison, Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
9. Rick Kelly, Jack Daniels Racing Holden Commodore VE
10. Michael Caruso, Fujitsu Racing / GRM Holden Commodore VE
17. Fabian Coulthard, Bundaberg Red Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
22. Andrew Thompson, Bundaberg Red Racing Team Holden Commodore VE
