Hour 6 Update: Skwirk.com stays strong

Halfway mark passed, Car 1 not surpassed

For half of hour six, the field of the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour saw maximum speeds of 80km/h as the officials raced to clean up a massive accident on the top of the mountain.

When the race finally resumed just before noon, third driver and team owner Rod Salmon found 3.9secs from the field within the first lap.

However, the other Evos were not going to allow Salmon any room to breathe.

TMR Teammate Ricciardello, and Brad Jones (both in similar Evos) challenged Salmon as his stint drew to a close.

But the safety car came out for the eighth time after a Holden Astra careened into a wall, spilling its fluids over the racing line. The team took this opportunity to perform a driver change, fuel stop and change the two front tyres, with new driver Tony Longhurst rejoining the race in fifth, and moving to fourth within two laps.

“Having been given the car late in the safety car session, I rejoined near last and had to overtake the whole pack - which is really good fun, but rather nerve-wracking at times,” admitted Salmon.

“Lots of safety car (periods) meant for stop-start concentration, but it was fantastic to work through the pack, work the Evo into first, and stay there.

“Dicing with Seton and Ricciardello was some of the most exciting race driving I’ve done. The car finished the stint as good as it started – its brilliant.”

Tyre wear is even and better than expected, and Alan Heaphy of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart is very happy with the team’s progress at the halfway mark.

“We had to change tyres mid-race to see what they were like – it’s a new car and these factors are unknown, but we are very happy with what we found and will keep blazing on for another six hours,” said Heaphy.

“It’s a shame the other car (#55) was ruffled out there, but it’s mechanically untouched.

“Both Tony’s (Longhurst, Ricciardello) are doing a great job.”

HOUR SIX
1    55  G.Crimp/T.Ricciardello/S.Kostera               
West Surfing Products          Mitsubishi Lancer RS  05:54:52.6825 
2    11  B.Morcom/L.Searle/P.Stubber               
Rondo Building Services        BMW 335i               05:54:54.5085  
3    35  J.Bargwana/S.Knight/B.Jones                 
PRO-DUCT Motorsport       Mitsubishi Lancer RS  05:55:03.0966 
4     1  R.Salmon/T.Longhurst/D.White                 
TMR Australia                  Mitsubishi Lancer RS  05:55:05.4748 
5    43  D.Wall/D.Wall/T.Symonds 
Easts Holiday Parks            Mitsubishi Lacer GSR  05:55:02.7256