MEGA Racing’s Garry Jacobson has moved into contention for the Dunlop Super2 Supercars Series with one round to go after a truly remarkable 250km race at Bathurst this afternoon.
Jacobson will head to Newcastle third in the Championship, just 111 points behind new Championship leader, Chris Pither after many Championship front-runners had horror runs in the double points paying 41-lap race.
Jacobson was outstanding from the time the lights on the starting gantry went out this afternoon and went incredibly close to pulling off one of the great Bathurst race victories.
After starting on the dirty side of the racetrack from Pole Position, Jacobson entered turn one in second, however he grabbed the lead at The Chase on lap three.
A Safety Car soon after saw the MW Motorsport team immediately pit the MEGA Fuels Nissan for its first of two pitstops. As the field played out after the first round of stops, Jacobson re-assumed the lead and was staving off a challenge from fellow Nissan driver, Dean Fiore before completing his second pitstop service on lap 22.
On the following lap, both Fiore and Macauley Jones pitted with Jones re-entering second and Fiore jumping Jacobson for third.
As the leader, Dom Storey pitted on lap 32, the 26-year-old from Shepparton got past Fiore again at The Chase after pushing hard to close the deficit following the pit visit.
On the next lap, a Safety Car was triggered which would set up a time certain, one lap dash between Macauley Jones and the MEGA Fuels-backed driver.
It appeared as though the advantage was in Jones’ hands before an incredible run across the top of the Mountain saw Jacobson right on the tail of the Albury racer.
Jones got taily into The Chase with Jacobson right underneath his rear wing. Jacobson went for his move, locking a brake in the process attempting to avoid Jones. Jones went across the grass and came to a halt in the sandtrap, Jacobson also left the track before re-joining for the run to the chequered flag.
Nevertheless, the momentum was with the other drivers around Jacobson and they snuck past, relegating him to fourth position – the win ultimately going the way of Fiore over Alex Rullo – the three Nissans in the top four finishers.
With a superb performance in an unpredictable Dunlop Super2 race behind him, Jacobson’s attention now turns to tomorrow morning and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, where he will share the #11 Castrol Nissan with Rick Kelly.
Tomorrow morning will begin with the warmup at 8:05am before the lights go out at 11:10am for this year’s 161-lap Great Race.
Garry is carrying special support to this year’s Bathurst 1000 with a group of local supporters backing him, including the Shepparton Motor Museum and Greater Shepparton City Council, Foott Waste, Challenger Valves, MGA Insurance, FIX Muscle Performance, Thompson Motors and Varapodio Orchards.
His 2018 Racing Program is officially supported by MEGA Fuels, RABBLE.club, Exedy, Challenger Valves and Actuators, PalmTrans, McQuinn Electrical and MGA Insurance Brokers.
QUOTEBOARD – GARRY JACOBSON:
“I absolutely don’t know where to start with that race, it was incredible.
“I felt quite comfortable with how the car was handling and our fuel conservation throughout the race and was very much in control, we had the fastest car out there for sure. I was trying to break the tow from my team-mate to maximise the advantage and fuel burn rate.
“After the second pitstop I was a few seconds behind Dean and then was able to close the deficit within a few laps, then the late Safety Car really sweetened things for me.
“When we came back to the start, the engine was fuelled up and I wasn’t getting the zing I needed through turn one and then Macca got half a second on me.
“Once it got going – I really pushed on, probably nearly crashed in the process of trying to close the gap, but I was really proud of my efforts to be right with him at the Elbow.
“I made a decision heading into The Chase that I wanted to grab the lead and not sure what happened after that!
“It looked like Macauley had a moment – something happened into The Chase – I thought he was going one way so I chose the other, then he switched back and unfortunately we made contact, it was just a really unfortunate situation for both of us and a racing incident at the end of the day.
“I race to win all the time and to not get a podium or the win is a bitter pill to swallow as the MEGA Fuels machine was handling brilliantly right throughout this weekend.
“On the positive, we’re heading to Newcastle in the hunt for the Championship – so we’ll be doing everything we can to lock that one away for MW Motorsport, Nissan and of course MEGA Fuels and all our sponsors who have been just so supportive.
“Tonight, I will try and process what happened today but we’ve got a big race tomorrow with Rick in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. I’m so proud to be representing Nissan Motorsport and Castrol in the race this year, particularly with the Larry Perkins tribute livery.
“Turning out with the livery to honour Larry – and of course Gregg Hansford who will be announced as a Bathurst Legend tomorrow morning – has had such a positive response from racefans, from the media and all the sponsors associated with the effort.
“We’re starting 14th, it is a long day and we are looking forward to the fight ahead of us!”
HOW TO WATCH GARRY JACOBSON & THE SUPERCHEAP AUTO BATHURST 1000:
24/7: The Bathurst Channel
Foxtel, Fox Sports Channel 506
Foxtel 4K, Channel 444
Sunday
7:15am-6:30pm – Fox Sports 506/444
7:30am-6:00pm – Network TEN
ON-TRACK SESSION TIMES:
Sunday
8:05am-8:25am – Bathurst 1000 Warmup
11:10am – Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – 161 Laps
DUNLOP SUPER2 SERIES CALENDAR:
Adelaide 500 – March 1-4
Tasmanian Super Sprint – April 6-8
Perth Super Sprint – May 4-6
Townsville 400 – July 6-8
Sandown 500 – September 14-16
Bathurst 1000 – October 4-7
Newcastle 500 – November 23-25
FURTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
www.garryjacobson.com
www.megaltd.com.au
http://rabble.club
www.mwmotorsport.com.au
www.facebook.com/garryjacobsonmotorsport/
www.facebook.com/MEGARacing
www.facebook.com/mwmotorsport
https://www.instagram.com/garryjacobson/
https://www.instagram.com/megaracingau/
https://www.instagram.com/mwmotorsport/
