LIVE DIARY: DARWIN

Sunday 19th June

4:30pm – Our best wishes go to Lee Holdsworth, speedy recovery mate, we hope to see you back on track soon!

RACE WRAP –

Jamie Whincup – Car #88
Qualifying Race 2 – Ninth (Fastest Lap: 1:06.3321)
Top Ten Shoot Out – Tenth (Fastest Lap: 1:07.7893)
Race 2 – Eighth (Fastest Lap: 1:07.5435)

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97
Qualifying Race 2 – Seventh (Fastest Lap: 1:06.2806)
Top Ten Shoot Out – FIRST (Fastest Lap: 1:06.6797)
Race 2 – FIRST (Fastest Lap: 1:07.5684)

Jamie Whincup – Car #88
“I really don’t want to bring the mood down, it was obviously a great day for the team and Will Davison and Tekno, who are Triple Eight customers, were in fourth so a great day for Triple Eight and unfortunately for me the same old story, just no pace on Sunday and not sure why. There’s only one thing I ask for in crew #88 and that’s that everyone puts in maximum effort and from what I can see everyone is doing everything they can to get my car as quick as possible but there’s something that we’re not doing right. We’ll do the same as we’ve done the last six rounds and go away and try work out what’s going on but at the moment it’s pretty confusing.”

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97
“A pretty awesome day, yesterday we had a fast car and didn’t make the most of it so today was awesome. We qualified on pole, we didn’t lead from the front but we managed what we had. It was exciting in pit lane for the first stop but the way we did that middle stint with Craig (Lowndes) was enjoyable. We were pushing hard and made a gap and in the last stint we came out in front which was a surprise and managed the tyres all the way. It was awesome to fight at the front all day and I’m stoked to get 150 points on the board.”

11:20am – Double POLE!! Deja vu? SVG will be starting today’s race from P1 and Jamie will be in P10 after a slight mistake into the last corner.

Diary 1

9:45am – Qualy done, top ten shootout here we come! Jamie will be second out and Shane will be fourth to find their grid position for this afternoon’s race.

9:15am – Qualy up next with a ten top shootout straight after. Give us a hell yeah if you’re excited. HELL YEAH!

8:10am – It’s nearly True Colour Track Walk time! It’s heating up on the grid, so if you’re heading out today, make sure you’ve donned the sun protection. #staysafekids

6:45am – Life at the track before the fans flood in to catch the real action. We’re ready for a massive Darwin Sunday! Make sure you tune in.

IMG_7167-pit-stop-practice

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Saturday 18th June

8:40pm – Silence has fallen across the paddock, apart from in the RBRA garage. We’re still going and we definitely don’t do it quietly. #lifeoftheparty #andpitlaneisaparty

RACE WRAP –

Jamie Whincup – Car #88
Practice 3 – 11th (Fastest Lap: 1:06.6228)
Qualifying Race 1 – Sixth (Fastest Lap: 1:06.3540)
Race 1 – Second (Fastest Lap: 1:07.7147)

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97
Practice 3 – Eighth (Fastest Lap: 1:06.5081)
Qualifying Race 1 – FIRST (Fastest Lap: 1:06.0922)
Race 1 – 16th (Fastest Lap: 1:07.0632)

Jamie Whincup – Car #88
“A great result from where we started, I got shuffled back at the start by a car on the inside. There was a tussle which got me back up there and the car was great. Everyone’s talking about the restart, the problem is the safety car has got to get going earlier, it was all cramped up because the safety car doesn’t go in time, but saying that, I got a good run and was up the inside of the car in front and he decided to shut the gate that I was already in. After that, the car was great and we we’re able to look after the tyres and come through.”

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97
“It wasn’t the best start but I held second and on the restart I just misjudged the line and passed before the line. No one to blame but myself, we had a fast car today and didn’t make the most of it so I’m pretty annoyed at myself but will hopefully back it up tomorrow. The car is really good so we’ve got to keep up with the track tomorrow and we should start up the front again. The car is amazing and we made some good headway this weekend so I’m feeling really good in the car just a silly mistake by myself.”

3:25pm – Jamie on today’s race: “Most people will probably pit around lap 10. We may or may not take on fuel, but one thing’s for sure and that’s that it’s going to be hot out there.”

3:00pm – How was our mate Toby Price in the stadium Super Trucks? Talk about entertainment! Looking forward to Townsville when the trucks take to the streets.

12:10pm – POLE!!

Diary 4

12:00pm – Qualifying – tick. SVG takes pole for this afternoons race, JW will be starting from P6. Bring it on!

10:20am – A quick 15 minute practice session has been and gone. Shane finished inside the top ten in P8 and Jamie just outside in P11. Not long to go till qualifying, just enough time for the boys to cool down and top up the dry ice.

9:10am – The sun is shining this morning, it’s going to be another scorcher! Give us a wave Cauchi!

Diary 3

8:28am – Pit stop practice done, breakfast finished, debrief in progress and just over an hour to go until we hit the track. Bring it on!

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Friday 17th June 

7:33pm – Now’s the time that the brain boxes put all the good things we learnt into the cars to make them go even faster tomorrow. Well… that’s the theory anyway! Can we claim our first pole of 2016?

4:00pm –  Camera’s over here guys! That’s p1 and p3 for Friday practice.

Diary 2 darwin

RACE WRAP –

Jamie Whincup – Car #88
Practice 1 – Second (Fastest Lap: 1:07.0730)
Practice 2 – FIRST (Fastest Lap: 1:06.6209)

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97
Practice 1 – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:07.0956)
Practice 2 – Third (Fastest Lap: 1:06.6442)

 

Jamie Whincup – Car #88
“It was a really good day. The car is much nicer to drive than it has been in a long time, I really feel like we found some gains at the test day which has resulted in the car being nicer to drive. We changed a lot of things, what we know made the car go faster today so we are in a good place. That doesn’t guarantee us anything on the weekend, we’ve still got to keep working away to make sure we keep improving the car but so far so good and I’m very happy with where we are at.”

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97
“I was struggling with the heat a bit, being from New Zealand, I wish it was 12 degrees. It’s been alright, it’s tough in the car but once you get going it’s fine. It will be interesting to see how the tyres play out tomorrow and Sunday, the track is good here now with the new seal, I enjoy driving round. It’s compulsory to run the cool suit here today because of the temperature so you’re trying to cool down. Today we are trying to do everything we can, like helmet fans in practice where you’d normally not run them on a Friday, so it’s much hotter than it has been. The car’s been really fast this year but I’m struggling to enjoy driving it as it’s quite different to what I’m used to. Today the car was really nice to drive and fast so things are pretty positive for me.”

1:45pm – Red Bulls on ice to keep our heads cool in the Darwin heat.

Diary 1 darwin

12:37pm – They say practice makes perfect, and whoever “they” are were too right! Kicking goals with JW in P2 and SVG in P3 after a hot practice session. Those cool suits will be getting a work out over the weekend.

11:00am – Autograph session done and dusted. The boys are now gearing up for practice 1.

7:43am – It’s a full schedule today on track, with merch signings and practice sessions. Slip, slop, slap as it’s going to be a scorcher (what’s new?).

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Thursday 16th June

5:00pm – Don’t forget to head down to Mindil Beach to meet Jamie and Shane. They’ll be there from 5:35pm.

3:30pm – Hello Darwin.

IMG_2065

1:20pm – Always show your true colours on track. The charging bulls are ready for tomorrow’s practice sessions.

9:11am – If you are up the top end today why not catch a glimpse of the transporter parade? 10:30am local time driving through the CBD. Wave to Wazzie!

Wednesday 15th June 

3:20pm – Never miss the chance to meet the team.

RBRA - Appreance Social Post

1:50pm – RD has left the building. The Boss is on his way to Darwin after having the weekend off in Winton.

12:03pm – Silence over the workshop as the remaining few team members contemplate what we do for lunch now Mario isn’t here. #notselfsufficient

11:21am – FUN FACT – Triple Eight has won 49 VASC races under the RBRA banner since 2013 – the next race win will be the milestone 50th win for the ‘Bulls.

9:40am – Ready for the weekend? SVG is.

8:55am – The first of the crew has left for Darwin ready to roll out. Swapping jumpers for shorts, she’s going to be a hot one up the top-end.

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Tuesday 14th June 

11:23am – FUN FACT – Red Bull Racing Australia leads the Team’s Championship by 343 points over Prodrive post-Winton – despite a tough weekend at Winton, we still managed to pull an even bigger lead in the Teams’ Championship. #winner

9:32am – Having a moment. Throwback Tuesday (it’s a thing, ok) to CL’s big win in Darwin last year. Clocking that big history making 100th race win.

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Monday 13th June

5:21pm – The race week rituals have started and, true-to-form, JDub and his crew are drinking all the Red Bulls in the board room over prebrief as they crunch the numbers on #bringing88back.

11:42am – Word from Wazzy is that the big bull (our Iveco B double transporter) is lapping up these Ks. ‘Roo count? Didn’t ask!

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Friday 10th June

4:30pm – Trucks are packed, Red Bull stocks are high and Wazza has his driving thongs on. Looks like we’re ready for a road trip!

DarwinLDtruckload

2:57pm – Crocs, fires and one hell of a straight… Check out SVG’s thoughts on Darwin:

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