Hour 9 Update: Car #1 in strong

  Safety cars continue to stir the pot

  Though another safety car reduced the TMR/Skwirk.com Evo X’s lead from 50 seconds to less than zero, the defending champions were not about to let new leaders run away with the prize.

  Skwirk.com driver Tony Longhurst, who replaced Rod Salmon earlier than expected due to the course yellow, slashed 11.4 secs from the lead car within the first three laps of race restart.

  Going in to hour 10, Longhurst has clawed back another handful of seconds, sitting just five secs behind the lead car – ironically, the other TMR Evo X.

  All other competitors are now at least one lap down on both TMR cars.

  “There was plenty of pressure to maintain margin and stay out of trouble, but I had a great stint,” said Salmon after his final stint.

  “The tyres were definitely at the very end of their life, and a call was made to replace the front right under safety car conditions.

  “I came in a few laps before our scheduled fuel stop because of the safety car. The positive slant was that it came out at a great time for the TMR team – our Evo X’s are the only cars left on the lead lap.

  “With three hours to go, all we have to do is get the two cars home to get on the podium.

  “An exciting finish is assured, as there are no team orders. With the likelihood of Ricciardello and white finishing the race, it will be a fight to the finish.”

HOUR NINE
1    55  G.Crimp/T.Ricciardello/S.Kostera               
West Surfing Products          Mitsubishi Lancer RS  08:58:03.8045 
2     1  R.Salmon/T.Longhurst/D.White                
TMR Australia                  Mitsubishi Lancer RS  08:58:05.0830 
3    11  B.Morcom/L.Searle/P.Stubber               
Rondo Building Services        BMW 335i             08:58:13.6468 
4    35  J.Bargwana/S.Knight/B.Jones                 
PRO-DUCT Motorsport   Mitsubishi Lancer RS   09:00:19.5074 
5    23  S.Briffa/M.Zukanovic/T.Sipp                  
GSK Group                 Holden VE R8 Clubsport  08:58:11.8916