Back-to-back championships for Skwirk.com Racing and TMRSalmon, Longhurst and White lead Bathurst 12 Hour Mitsubishi 1-2-3 |  |
After 12 hours and 239 laps, the 2009 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race has been won by 2008 Bathurst 12 Hour champions Rod Salmon, Damien White, and new driver Tony Longhurst in a TMR-prepared Skwirk Mitsubishi Evo X. It’s a decisive win for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, which dominated the top of the leaderboard with both of its Lancer Evolution X entries, and finished in first and second place respectively, and making up an Evolution X 1-2-3 on the 2009 podium.
Their team mates, the TMR Evo X of Ricciardello, Crimp and Kostera, battled until the final hour when White began to pull away. The race was won by 6.4 seconds. This is the first back-to-back production car 12 hour endurance win. ROD SALMON
“It’s one of the most spectacular results I could hope for, and the TMR Skwirk Evo X has been faultless,” said driver and team owner Rod Salmon. “The team, Tony and Damien: I’ve gotta take hat off to them, and what a legend Damian is. That last hour, the pressure – that’s why they call him Ice!” “We came here and knew what we wanted to do, and it’s a big ask to win once – to win twice is a real fairytale, a dream come true.” TONY LONGHURST
“I’m happy, and proud to be a part of the team,” said Longhurst. “I knew I was hopping into the best car out there, and it was proved today.”
DAMIEN WHITE
“When I clocked the third 2:30sec time in the final hour, I knew we had it,” said White.
“The TMR team, the Skwirk Mitsubishi Evo X, Rod and Longhurst, it was a great team effort and a fantastic ride.” “It’s been a fascinating contest and the Skwirk Evo did not missing a beat. “And with the other TMR Evo in second place, full credit must go to Alan Heaphy and team.” ALAN HEAPHY, TMR
“How much better can you get, the 12 Hour win and the second-fastest lap time with one car, and second place and the lap record with the other,” said Heaphy. “We came here in 1991 with Nissan GT-R’s and blitzed them, and we’ve done the same now with the Evo X. Brilliant.”
2009 WPS Bathurst 12 hour
Final results
1 1 R.Salmon/T.Longhurst/D.White
TMR Australia Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:00:05.9576
2 55 G.Crimp/T.Ricciardello/S.Kostera
West Surfing Products Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:00:12.4363 - 2:29.9865*
3 35 J.Bargwana/S.Knight/B.Jones
PRO-DUCT Motorsport Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:01:39.6011
4 43 D.Wall/D.Wall/T.Symonds
Easts Holiday Parks Mitsubishi Lacer GSR
12:01:10.3492
5 11 B.Morcom/L.Searle/P.Stubber
Rondo Building Services BMW 335i
12:01:11.2521
6 3 S.Jones/K.Wade/A.Caratti
Messages on Hold / Tyrepower Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:01:55.2134
7 23 S.Briffa/M.Zukanovic/T.Sipp
GSK Group Holden VE R8 Clubsport
12:03:51.0836
8 20 G.Holt/P.Morris/R.Shaw
Eastern Creek Karts BMW 335i
12:00:56.9210
9 24 G.Walden/B.Walden/M.Auld
Walden Motorsport Holden Commodore SS
2:01:48.1913
10 62 T.Leahey/P.Hill/E.Bana
Love the Beast Mitsubishi Lancer RS
12:01:56.3143 |
