Camden-Based racer Cameron Crick has enjoyed the highs and lows of a Bathurst weekend in what was an action-packed ECB SuperUtes Series round at the famous Mount Panorama circuit. Coming into the weekend 29 points adrift of joint championship leaders Tom Alexander and Ryan Harris, Crick had his eyes set on Bathurst glory, whilst hoping to continue his late season championship surge.
The weekend began well for Crick, who despite struggling in both Thursday practice sessions managed to string together several quick qualifying laps to qualify for Race 1 in pole position. Crick would build on this momentum and seize the Race 1 victory in wet conditions, following a tense battle with Ben Walsh. Crick was able to enjoy the hard-fought win, finally conquering the mountain on his 4th visit to the iconic venue.
“You think back to the troubles we’ve had here being such a difficult track, in the (Toyota) 86 series hitting the wall in year 1, being spun on mountain straight year 2, coming so close and getting on the podium last year, it was just a tremendous feeling. Walshy doesn’t do you any favours, you have to earn every bit of road because he’s a competitor, and after he knocked my steering out in turn 1 I thought we might be in strife but thankfully we got a move that stuck and sealed the win”.
The reverse-grid race has thrown up plenty of challenges for Crick throughout this season, and Race 2 proved to be no different. Methodically working through the field after starting in 11th position, Crick looked set to pounce on Walsh once more, as he eyed to move from 4th to 3rd in the closing laps. In what was a hair-raising moment, Crick stayed wide through the chase, giving himself the inside run for the the final corners. An unfortunate lock-up saw Crick spin at speed, coming to a halt in the middle of Turn 21. As fellow competitors went sprawling to dodge the #7 Team Triton Racing entry, Bailey Hall drove straight the middle of the corner and delivered a crushing blow to Crick’s left rear, sending his rear left wheel rolling through the outfield. The DNF would ruin Crick’s chances of climbing onto the podium for the weekend.
In what would be a monumental effort the Sieder’s Racing Team was able to quickly piece together Crick’s car, taking parts from both Elliot Barbour and Graham Edward’s cars which had sustained heavy damage in Race 2 also. With a brand new rear end in place, Crick took to the track for Race 3 with his championship hopes on the line, putting his patched-up SuperUte to the test on the country’s most unforgiving circuit.
Crick’s Race 3 effort ranks amongst his finest to date, as he displayed great patience and controlled aggression to maximise his ascent through the field, ultimately finishing in 2nd place to cap off a remarkable weekend of motor racing.
“It’s crazy to think we took pole, a first and a second place but still walked away outside the Top-3!” Crick exclaimed, “Obviously gutted about the whole Race 2 incident, I picked up a bit of coolant through the chase and just lost the rear under brakes. I can’t fault the Sieder’s boys for their efforts, with all they had to manage they did an awesome job and I thought Barbs (Elliot Barbour) in particular put up with a lot worse than me all weekend. All in all, stoked to grab our first Bathurst win and hopefully it won’t be our last!”.
In spite of his Race 2 DNF, Crick walked away from Bathurst now placed 2nd in the ECB SuperUtes Series championship, 43 points behind Tom Alexander. The SuperUtes Series takes to the track next on the streets of Surfer’s Paradise, for the Vodafone Gold Coast 600, between October 25-27.
Cameron and the team would like to thank all his sponsors for his 2019 campaign;
Total Tools
Team Triton Racing
Mitsubishi Motors Australia
Bosch Professional Power Tools and Accessories
Blundstone Australia
Lightforce Performance Lighting
Sia Abrasives
Champion Parts
Drivetech 4×4
Torqit
Pedders
Trade Risk
Castrol
#teamcastrol
Maverick Campers
Nippy’s
Vilis’s Cafe & Bakery
Hayman Reese Australia
Plus Fitness Racing
Plus Fitness
A+T Puckle Electrical
Pro Axle Australia,
Cleanway Environmental Services
All Safe Group
HDSA Group
Stillwell Trucks
O’Neill Civil Pty Ltd
My Property Consultants
Rapid 1st Aid Training & Supplies
Direct Steel Traders
Muscat Trailers
Hawk Carts
Inspire Energy AUS
Squires Ink
Crown Pool Superstore
Creative Signworx
Bondi Carpets
Viztek Media
FreeM Racewear
DSR Radios
Driving Solutions
JP’s METAL
Rampage.Store
Sieders Racing
