Strong team result for Shell Helix Racing
29/11/2004 18:33 (Press Release) -
After a slow start to the Tasmanian V8 event at Symmons Plains Shell Helix Racing finished it off with a bang. Steven Johnson and Warren Luff had their best individual race results of the year when Johnson finished race three in fifth place and Luff in sixth.
Both drivers worked their way forward after Johnson qualified in 19th and Luff in 13th place on Saturday morning. Johnson finished the first race in 13th and followed this up with a 10th and a fifth while Luff was 16th in the first race and ended with a 12th and a sixth in the remaining two.
Overall Johnson took sixth for the round and Luff eighth.
Both drivers were delighted with the result.
Steve Johnson
Qualifying: 19th
Race One: 13th
Race Two: 10th
Race Three: 5th
Round: 6th
Quotes:
"I'm pretty happy to have finished fifth in that final race after the start that we had this weekend. With engine and tail shaft issues during practice I wasn't sure what we could achieve. But we tried to stay out of trouble and keep with the front runners in today's two races and the results came our way.
"Sixth in race three was a race late. We could have had that result in
race two and been higher than we were had we not had problems. I'm certainly happy but I could have been even happier.
"I was concentrating harder than ever this weekend. I was working even
closer with the boys and looking to find ways of improving. It was a great team effort.
"The pit stops today were just fantastic. It moved me up the grid a lot. It was just disappointing that we couldn't get out ahead of Cameron McConville as well.
"I'm more happy with the championship points situation. I pulled back 66 points from Garth Tander. I'm chasing him for 10th in the championship. I started the weekend 116 points him and go to Eastern Creek only 50 behind. We've done well over the last four rounds and Garth has not. Momentum is important but I'm expecting a fight. The top 10 means a lot.
"I'm hoping to rise another position because from my point of view Steve Richards passed me under yellow, we'll have to wait and see what the race stewards say."
Warren Luff
Qualifying: 13th
Race One: 16th
Race Two: 12th
Race Three: 6th
Round: 8th
Quotes:
"Race one, on Saturday afternoon, was a little disappointing but today
we were able to move forward. We kept working at it and went from 16th, to 12th, to sixth over the course of the weekend. In that final race the boys did a blinding tyre change, they got me in and out really quickly which helped me jump several places. The team also prepared a car that was really fast; I was able to do consistently fast times.
"To finish sixth in the final race and eighth for the round is really pleasing.
"It shows the strength of character of the team and shows that through
adversity we can triumph. After the ordinary start we all put our heads down and got on with the job. We made the best of a bad situation and we turned it around into a positive. To have both cars in the 10 at the end of the weekend is a true testament to every guy in the team.
"The result gives me a lot of confidence especially for the last round
of the championship at Eastern Creek. I've been look forward to EC because we've been there this year, so I'm going back to a track were I've driven this car and raced. From this I can gauge how much I've grown and improved since then. I want to finish the year off on a real high."
Release Date: 14/11/2004
Shell Helix - Dick Johnson Racing
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