David Besnard In 12th Place On Championship Table
24/3/2004 0:37 (Press Release) -
The strong series debut of new V8 Supercar team WPS Racing got even better today when driver David Besnard was elevated to 12th place on the Championship table.
Besnard finished the weekend’s season-opening Clipsal 500 in 13th place on the table after placing 14th on the second and final day of the Adelaide race.
However, race officials today amended final placings after docking Paul Dumbrell of 75 points for his involvement in an accident that put four drivers out of the race.
The penalty saw Besnard, who had a front row seat to the accident and had to take evasive action to avoid the carnage, leap Dumbrell on the points table.
Team owner Craig Gore, the chief executive and chairman of team sponsor Wright Patton Shakespeare Financial Services Group, said the team’s position on the table was extraordinary.
“To be in 12th position after piecing together this team just two months ago is an amazing effort,” said Gore.
“It is a credit to our team just to have fielded a car in the first round.
“Up to last week I could have gone out and taken a few bets with other teams who didn’t believe we would even finish the first race.
“I reckon I could have picked up a few hundred grand with us coming in 12th.
“The only shame is that our odds of finishing at Eastern Creek have just shortened dramatically so I don’t think I’ll get a chance to win any money there.”
Gore was forced to watch a delayed telecast of the final race from the living room of his Gold Coast home after leaving Adelaide on Saturday due to a family emergency.
He remained in telephone contact with the team during the race and said he was amazed as each phone call revealed Besnard was climbing the ladder.
“He started in 18th place and every time the phone range he was moving through the field,” said Gore.
“About two-thirds of the way through the race I got a call saying he was in second place and that just did my head in.
“Once he had his second pitstop he slid just outside of the top 10 and even after he was shunted into a wall he managed to maintain his track position.
“It was a great effort all round and I wish I was there to see it all unfold.”
Gore said the team would now regroup at its Gold Coast base this week to work out a strategy for the second round at Eastern Creek in 10 days.
“We’ll have a debrief from Adelaide and then we’ll determine the way forward,” he said.
“Now that we have had some good track time we can say we are starting to understand the car and that will stand us in good stead for Eastern Creek.”
Release Date: 22/03/2004
WPS Racing
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