V8SC Round 3: FPR Dominates ITM 400 In Hamilton

Ford Performance Racing have continued their impressive start to the 2012 V8 Supercar Championship, taking out both races of the ITM 400 in Hamilton, New Zealand over the weekend.

The round included races 5 and 6 of the series, with Will Davison’s Trading Post Ford taking out Race 5, and Mark Winterbottom’s Orrcon Ford claiming victory in Race 6.

The round was the final event to be held on the Hamilton street circuit after five years, with the event moving to a yet-to-be announced NZ circuit in 2013.

Race 5: 200km | 59 laps

Saturday’s race began with an eventful start which saw eventual winner Davison leap from sixth on the grid to second in the opening two corners of the race.

Front-row starter Shane Van Gisbergen led into Turn 1 before a brake lock-up. This was followed by contact from David Reynolds which forced Van Gisbergen’s SP Tools Falcon back into the pack. Reynolds later received a 25 point penalty for the incident.

Reynolds ran wide at the next turn, allowing pole-sitter Tander back into the lead.

Tander continued to lead through the first round of pitstops until Lap 27, when he succumbed to the championship leader’s speed advantage.

Davison built up a 4 second margin over Tander after the second round of pitstops. This was soon eroded on Lap 39 after the Safety Car was called following Alexandre Premat’s Fujitsu Racing GRM Holden crashing heavily at Turn 6.

After the restart, Jamie Whincup’s TeamVodafone Holden pressured Tander after making up for a stall during his fist pitstop, before taking second place on Lap 55.

The troublesome Turn 4 tyre bundle ruined Davidson’s teammates Winterbottom and Reynolds’ chances of a Race 5 podium, with both suffering front suspension damage during the race.

This forced Reynolds to retire, with the Kelly Racing Commodores of Karl Reindler and Greg Murphy retiring under similar circumstances.

The Team Norton DJR Falcon of James Moffat was also forced to retire after a Turn 7 collision following contact with Tony D’Alberto’s Hiflex Falcon.

D’Alberto missed out on a top 10 finish after being handed a drive-through penalty for exceeding the allowable five kerb hopping breaches at the infamousTurn 4 chicane. Taz Douglas, Van Gisbergen and Jonathon Webb were also handed penalties for kerb infringements.

Davison eventually led Jamie Whincup past the chequered flag by  2.53s, with Tander, Craig Lowndes, Rick Kelly, Steve Owen, James Courtney, Michael Caruso, Fabian Coulthard and Russell Ingall making up the the top 10 finishers.

Race 6: 200km | 59 laps

Davison started on pole after Sunday’s qualifying session, with Winterbottom alongside on the front row.

Whincup managed to start third on the grid, despite crashing on Turn 4 during qualifying.

Winterbottom won the Turn 1 drag race at the start, and the FPR 1-2 remained for half the race until Davison succumbed to Whincup’s superior pace. Whincup had recovered from falling to seventh place after a bad start.

Steve Owen’s VIP Petfoods Ford retired on Lap 14 after heavy contact with the wall on the Turn 4 exit.

The Safety Car was called on Lap 18 after Tander left debris on the circuit after a Turn 6 tyre bundle clash, forcing a lengthy stop which resulted in an eventual 26th place.

Michael Caruso’s Fujitsu Holden suffered a similar fate, coming home in 25th after contact with Moffat. 

Fellow Fujitsu driver Premat rounded off a forgettable weekend by incurring three drive-through penalties after kerb hopping infringements.

Whincup continued his hunt for the lead, finally reigning in Winterbottom in the final laps.

TV viewers were left gasping two laps before the race finish when the live satellite link was interrupted, which did not return until halfway through Winterbottom’s victory lap.

Channel 7 quickly rectified the situation by repeating the footage, with past tense commentary.

The hard-charging Whincup made minor contact with Winterbottom on the last lap, but the Ford driver edged out a 0.7 second gap before the chequered flag.

Race 6 formed Winterbottom’s 250th V8SC start and his first victory for 2012.

Davison, Lowndes, Fabian Coulthard, Lee Holdsworth, Reynolds, D’Alberto, Todd Kelly and Shane van Gisbergen filled out the rest of the top 10.

Championship standings

Will Davison’s Hamilton success extends his lead in the championship to 21 points with Winterbottom a further 161 points behind Whincup.

The 2012 V8 Supercars Championship will continue with the Trading Post Perth Challenge at Barbagallo in a fortnight."

Results

Race 5

Race 6