An excellent start to the second part of the WD-40 Phillip Island 500 for the Hot Wheels™ Car Care Products-backed Walkinshaw Andretti United Virgin Australia Supercars team didn’t yield the results the team or drivers, James Courtney and Scott Pye were hoping for.
After a challenging first 250km race yesterday, Hot Wheels™ Car Care Products ambassador Courtney was buoyed by a sixth position in Sunday qualifying with Pye lining up three rows further back.
The smile that had returned to Courtney’s face was shortlived as the Mobil 1 Boost Mobile Racing machine experienced a gearbox fault on the sixth lap and Courtney ground to a halt on circuit, recording his second non-finish for season 2018.
Pye was sitting just outside the top 10 and was pushing hard to ensure yet another top 10 finish, however mustered an 11th placing, thus retaining sixth in the Championship points standings – still well in the fight 142 points behind new Championship leader and this weekend’s man to beat, Scott McLaughlin, while Courtney is now eighth on the ladder.
With many races between now and Newcastle’s Championship conclusion, Courtney is 269 points adrift of the Title lead and by no means out of contention.
The Hot Wheels™ Car Care Products-backed Walkinshaw Andretti United team head to the next round of the Championship in Perth in two week’s time third in the Teams’ Championship, with DJR Team Penske’s outstanding weekend seeing WAU’s fellow Australian/American team narrowly sneaking past them.
The next hitout for Hot Wheels™ Car Care Products-backed athletes will be with Courtney and Pye in Perth over the weekend of May 4-6 for the next event on the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship calendar.
