LIVE DIARY: TOWNSVILLE

Sunday 10th

RACE WRAP –

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 Qualifying 2– First (Fastest Lap: 1:12.6552) Top Ten Shoot Out – Fourth (Fastest Lap: 1:12.5786) Race 2 – First *New lap record: 1:13.3018 Championship standings – Second (1492 points) Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Qualifying 2–  Second (Fastest Lap: 1:12.7226) Top Ten Shoot Out –  Third (Fastest Lap: 1:12.5576) Race 2 – Fourth Championship standings – First (1545 points)

Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “We made some big changes to the car overnight and Jamie Whincup was in a whole league of his own yesterday. It was a hard qualifying session as I kept making little errors, we had a really fast car but it was frustrating. We had to work hard to make it a little more drivable for the race. A huge pat on the back for all the guys and girls with making the car fantastic to drive today. I was really able to push, that last stint of the race I just knew that I had to pass Mark Winterbottom, so I was pretty aggressive and got in front. The safety car certainly helped when it came to fuel consumption. It is a great feeling to have a win here, it really has been an awesome weekend.” Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “All in all it was obviously pretty disappointing with where we ended up. We did have a great car through qualifying, the shootout we really could have been better, but P3 was a good spot. Come the race, it was just all about timing and Shane (Van Gisbergen) had a tyre issue so he got the priority when it came to strategy. These things happen and we really gave it a good go, but obviously I was wanting to make that podium today. We know we can achieve good things, so ultimately we need to head into the next round at Queensland Raceway prepared and ready to give it our all.”

2:00pm – Some fierce competition out there today, with JW in P3 and SVG P4 at the end of the Top 10 Shoot Out.

11:32am – SVG clocked in the fastest lap of 1:12.6552 putting him in P1 ahead of the Shoot Out. JW in P2.

8:42am – A little birdy told us we are in for a win today! Well, not a little birdy….

8:17am – Plenty on today at the final day of the Townsville 400. Qualy kicks off at 1040am local time then a Top Ten Shootout, before another 200km race this afternoon.

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Saturday 9th 

RACE WRAP –

Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Qualifying 1 – First (Fastest Lap: 1:12.1143) Race 1 – FirstShane van Gisbergen – Car #97 Qualifying 1 – Second (Fastest Lap: 1:12.3242) Race 1 – Second

Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “I am wrapped with the result. There was plenty going on behind the scenes which was really pretty frustrating actually. It was one of the most frustrating races I have been involved in one way or another. Like always, you have got to have quick cars to win races and we had two rockets today so a big well done to the engineers. The cars were consistent, it was a great day. Look, 99 wins is really no different to 98 wins, but I am feeling confident towards tomorrow and hoping to hit the centurion.” Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “The race was pretty exciting at the start, James Courtney grabbed me on the first corner but then I got him back. I thought I had a good go at Jamie but I just didn’t have the pace. The third stint was epic, we had a good battle with the Fords, we ended up coming back to them and pulling way. Qualifying is really important, we set our strategy up for the day and it makes it so much easier to start up the front, so everyone’s hard work has paid off. Tomorrow we just need to make the Shoot Out and start up the front again, I am feeling confident in my car so I am looking forward to it.”

1:21pm – Pole baby!

1:15pm – Qualy sesh smashed. JW taking P1 and his first pole position of the year. SVG taking home P2. Looks like a front row lock out for the bulls!

11:00am – Don’t forget to visit us at merch this weekend – it’s the last one at our merchandise tent!

9:19am – Head in the game. We are getting prepped for qualy this afternoon.

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Friday 8th July

RACE WRAP –

Jamie Whincup – Car #88 Practice 1 – 17th (Fastest Lap: 1:13.6434) Practice 2 – First (Fastest Lap: 1:12.5530)Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 Practice 1 – 21st (Fastest Lap: 1:13.7626) Practice 2 – 4th (Fastest Lap: 1:12.7792)

Jamie Whincup – Car #88 “Another tricky day, I don’t know what it is. We went up and down with the car setup, we didn’t really get it right, but it somehow produced a good lap time on the green tyres. Once again we aren’t sitting here fully confident we are going to have a clean weekend but happy to finish on top, it’s a little win. We have some serious work to do overnight again to ensure we stay competitive ahead of tomorrow.” Shane van Gisbergen – Car #97 “The first practice session this morning was a bit of a battle, I definitely got acquainted with where they’ve placed the polystyrene signs. We had a great run in the second practice session which should give us some good momentum heading into tomorrow. I’m loving the Townsville round, in and out of the car, it’s a great place.”

2:12pm – JW ON PRACTICE ONE – “Yeah I kissed the wall there, bit of impact. Lost some rear grip which didn’t help. However all good, we got a feel for the track on some tyres and looking forward to getting back out there.’

1:02pm – Practice one down with JW in P17 and SVG in P21. A good session to really get a feel of the car on the track and test out tyres. There were some rogue signs in the way too….

10:43am – The perks of being a T8M8 #yesplease

9:01am – Another beautiful day in paradise as we head into two practice sessions today. Don’t forget to take the opportunity to meet the drivers!

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Thursday 7th July

2:00pm – It’s track walk time.

10:23am – After getting the blood pumping after the Trick Shot Challenge, we head off to the ZINC FM Autograph session.

9:45am – Ain’t nothin like JDubs B-Ballin skillz this morning. Testing out the court before the Red Bull Reign comp later in the month.

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Wednesday 6th July

9:12am – Don’t miss your chance to meet the drivers this weekend.

	Wednesday 6th July 3:30 – 4:30pm 45 Charters Towers Road, Townsville
	Wednesday 6th July 5.00 – 6.00pm Caltex, 103 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan
	Thursday 7th July 10:30 – 11.30am 67 -101 Macarther Drive, Annadale
	Thursday 7th July 4:00 – 5.00pm Autobarn, 251-255 Ross River Road, Aitkenvale
	Thursday 7th July 5:30 – 6.15pm Bulletin Square, Townsville CBD
	Friday 8th July 10.40-11.00am RBRA merchandise shop, on track SIGNING CARD REQUIRED
	Saturday 9th July 10.00-10.30am Behind team garage, on track
	Saturday 9th July 11.25-11.45am RBRA merchandise shop, on track SIGNING CARD REQUIRED
	Sunday 10th July 9.00-9.30am Behind team garage, on track
	All autograph sessions at the Red Bull Racing Australia merchandise store require a signing card, which can be picked up from the on-track store on the day of the session for a gold coin donation. All proceeds go to Wings For Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation.

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Tuesday 5th July

2:32pm – FUN FACT -Triple Eight has won four races so far this year in the VASC – two to van Gisbergen and singles to Whincup and Lowndes. No team has won more races so far in 2016 than Triple Eight Race Engineering.

12:03pm – So apparently we have made our resident golf buggy a convertible. Well…..the roof doesn’t come back on but….so no roof. A roofless buggy essentially. #justincaseyouwantedtoknow

10:11am – SVG ON TOWNSVILLE – “Another hot one for this Kiwi! I was certainly enjoying the climate over in Europe so this might be a shock to the system after the 200km races on Saturday and Sunday. The car has been performing well and I hope we continue our run from Darwin into this weekend.”

8:30am – Don’t miss JDub’s thoughts on the Reid Park track.

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Monday 4th July

3:14pm – RBRA leads Team’s Championship by whopping 577 points  – the margin has increased massively given it was 343 after Winton.

2:30pm – Bring on the sunshine.

 

1:30pm – JW ON TOWNSVILLE – “What’s not to love. It is great weather, but it’s hot in the cars during the 200km slogs. It is a track that I really enjoy, I have had a good run on in the past, so I hope to keep the momentum going.”

1:00pm – The workshop floor is shiny and clean, this can only mean one thing….RACE WEEK.

 

What you need to know:

Townsville 400 – Reid Park

Circuit length: 2.86km

Circuit direction: Clockwise

Average speed: 144km/h

Maximum speed: 260km/h

 

Championship standings

1^st – Jamie Whincup, 1275 points

2^nd – Craig Lowndes, 1245 points

3^rd – Scott McLaughlin, 1230 points

4^th – Mark Winterbottom, 1212 points

5^th – Shane van Gisbergen, 1204 points