Tenth top 10 for Orrcon Racing
16/8/2004 12:14 (Press Release) -
A competitive race package, superb team work in pit stops and intelligent driving was the ingredients for Orrcon Racing to record their tenth top ten finish for the 2004 Championship at Oran Park Raceway in Sydney today.
Entering the round tenth in the Championship Jason Bargwanna once again proved that the team is serious top ten contenders moving through the pack in the opening 54-lap journey.
After starting 16th Bargwanna was just outside the top ten when the pit stop window opened for the compulsory tyre change.
A superb stop by the Orrcon Racing team had Bargwanna leap frog five of his opposition to be in sixth once all drivers had completed their stops.
“The car was feeling the best it had all weekend and when the guys gave me a great stop it emphasized how much of a team sport this Championship really is,” said Bargwanna.
While his Bargwanna was battling for a top five finish his Orrcon Racing team mate Mark Winterbottom was continuing in his quest move up the order from his 25th qualifying position.
As the race developed Bargwanna came under immense pressure for his position leading a five car freight train for the final 20 laps of the event to the cross the line sixth.
Winterbottom continually battled with an ill handling car to cross the line 23rd.
Bargwanna was in the thick in the action during the opening few laps of the second race before being forced into a spin after contact from Steven Richards dropping him from 7th to 22nd.
Showing good pace Bargwanna clawed his way to be in contention for a position inside the top 15.
Disaster struck for Winterbottom on Lap 11 when his left front tyre blew coming over the bridge into the right hander damaging the rim, front spoiler and puncturing the radiator. The damage was sufficient to put a premature end to Winterbottom’s day.
“I came over the bridge as I had all weekend but as I braked the tyre blew and the front end dropped onto the ground causing a fair bit of damage, but I managed to limp back to the pit area” said Winterbottom.
“It was a weird situation because I hadn’t locked a brake to flat spot a tyre at all to cause it to blow.
“The car felt the best it had all weekend and I got a great start to move up several spots do it was very disappointing to end the weekend.”
Over the closing laps Bargwanna raced nose to tail with Paul Radisich crossing the line 14th, a result which provided Bargwanna with another top ten finish for the round. His result also ensured that he maintained his position inside the top 10 in the Championship.
“Although another top ten finish for the round is pleasing the effort put in by the team deserves a better result,” said Bargwanna.
“In the second race the car wasn’t great to start the race as I was on slightly older tyres and as the race developed the car was bound to get stronger, unfortunately we weren’t able to show how good this pace was compared to the front runners after spinning.”
Marcos Ambrose won the round ahead of Mark Skaife and Jason Bright. By finishing third Bright maintained his Championship lead on 1308 ahead of Ambrose (1295) and Steven Richards (1255). Bargwanna is tenth on 790 with Winterbottom 23rd on 592 points.
The next round of the Championship will be held at Sandown International Raceway on September 10-12.
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