It was a case of survival of the fittest at the second round for the Trico Trans Am Series at Mount Panorama supporting the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour on the Easter long weekend.
Dream Racing Australia expanded back to a twin-attack as Jackson Rice targeted an improved run of form in the Ruffnuts Heavy Duty Seatcovers Ford Mustang and team owner Craig Scutella made his first start in 18 months, steering the team’s Chevrolet Camaro in Pro-Am.
The focus for Rice was qualifying and after an interrupted sole practice session, he started Race 1 in 13th out of a mega 41-car field.
It was a solid opening race for Rice courtesy of running inside the top 10 for much of it until a puncture spoiled his run leading to a pit stop and 20th in class.
Determined to move forward in the second 45-minute encounter and safe in the knowledge his race pace was superior to many in front, Rice made plenty of ground to overhaul most of the Pro-Am contenders in what was a charge hampered by safety car periods. Rice finished the event 12th in Outright as many of his rivals fell foul of chaos.
As for Scutella, it was a welcome return behind the wheel however gear box issues in practice and gear linkage issues in qualifying meant that the first flying laps were completed in race 1 (starting from rear of field) finishing 14th in the opening race.
The second race of the weekend was red flagged after circa 5 laps due to MSA incompetence in not clearing the circuit to allow racing to continue depriving track fans and television viewers the chance to watch spectacular motor racing.
The next event on the Trico Trans Am Series calendar is a new event for this season supporting the Repco Supercars Championship at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin on June 20-22.
QUOTES
Jackson Rice
#7 Dream Racing Australia Mustang
“It was a really tough weekend,” summarised Rice.
“Unfortunately during the first race, we were doing really well and the car had plenty of pace. We were working into the top 10, but we ended up with a puncture, which put us a lap down as the guys put another tyre.
“Thanks to the boys for at least getting me back out there.
“Started Race 2 in the mid-30s and drove our way through to provisionally be 13th due to an incident at the top of the Mountain with oil everywhere leading to a red flag.
“It’s been a mixed bag and eyes forward to Darwin. We’ve got eight weeks to prep and do some testing when we can drag some more speed out of the rig.
“Massive thank you to everyone to come onboard this weekend led by Ruffnuts Heavy Duty Seatcovers. I hope we made you all proud and see you in Darwin.”
Craig Scutella
#777 Dream Racing Australia Camaro
“We ran Jackson Rice and myself this weekend – the old man made a comeback,” Scutella said.
“We came to the Mountain with great ambition and hope in two fantastically set-up cars. Cam Fisher, Glenn Seton, Kim Jane and the rest of the crew have put together the best cars for us. They were bloody fast.
“Everything was set-up for a weekend, however a series of incidents across the two races caused safety cars for the first eight laps of the first event and a red flag in the final.
“We’ve got some great racers in this category, we’ve got some bloody competitive drivers and the best in Australia in my opinion outside of Supercars, but it’s terrible what has happened across the weekend. The behaviour and standards that people have followed causing these incidents needs to be reigned in because we didn’t do the category any good at this event, this sadly on top of MSA seemingly incompetence in not clearing the track quickly enough to permit more motor racing.
“This is a wonderful category, we need to grow it, we need to expand it and get more media, we are in the game of entertainment, MSA and others need to realise that.
“We’ll be back in Darwin and we’re going to give it our best shot.”
