Quali in itself was an event, as it always is at Bathurst.
Toni and I had a mammoth battle - I just pipped him with my last gasp lap.
R1: Got a decent start and drafted Toni up Mountain Straight, he outbrakes himself and I sneak through into the lead. From here Toni and I had a mammoth duel - the gap ebbing and flowing. I was having to drive the Sierra ridiculously hard, he finally sneaked by on Lap 7. I almost carrered into him at the Chase the same lap, as I couldn;t see for his smoke LOL, just missed him. Then a half spin at the final turn put paid to my challenge. Anders closed, but I eased away again to finish 4 seconds behind Toni in 2nd.
R2: Starting in 10th. Got a good jump but stuck against a wall, there was just no room at all! I came to the middle and was between Anders and Jari. Jari got a slight nudge from Vale, Jari nudged me and I nudged Anders, resulting in poor Anders spinning. At T2, Toby rudely pushed his way past
, so I returned the favour the next corner, with a little nudge. Then, I owe massive apologies to those affected by the chaos at the Esses. Up ahead there was almost a three wide, which I couldn't see, the cars in front of me slowed, and I was a fair way back, so i carried my normal speed in. Mistake, I nudged Nic who nudged Gary and Gary span in front of everyone, they both retired, so sorry guys. I didn't wait as I wasn't really sure what went on till I watched the replay. Big slap on the wrists from me.
Didn;t drive grat the following laps thinking over what happened. Had a nice little fight with Graham in the Mustang, got past once and then let him through after a mistake, and got past him again. That thing is so quick on the straights lol. From here I closed in on Kjell and Ati. Passed Khell up the inside at McPhillamy, great move
. The final lap I closed right up on Ati (the Volvo's acceleration is unbelievable). I over took on the outside at the esses
. However, he dived past at the Chase, was slow on exit, meaning we went into the final turn side by side. I broke early thinking he would overcook the inside line. But he was too wise for that
. He broke early too, held the inside and I half spun, allowing that damn guy Toni through for second, I finished 3rd.
Very, very intense racing tonight - we have an exclusive first drive of Kris Vicker's scratch-built Croft next week