Mini Challenge, Mt. Panorama Bathurst, 2008

[All timing by Natsoft]

Bib Stillwell Mini Garage

Bathurst is a special place. Thousands upon thousands of fans flock here, many to pay homage to Australia’s premier motorsport category, the V8Supercars. The main race kicks off on Sunday, October 12.

The atmosphere at Bathurst is over the top: hundreds of campers, thousands of tents, impromptu barbeques and couches on the hillside are the norm. Ford and Holden fans share space on the mountain, all vying for the best vantage point for the 161 laps on Sunday..

To fans, Bathurst is the pinnacle of the racing calendar. To the drivers, it’s no different. It represents a feat of endurance, the survival of the fittest, and strength of character. All drivers aiming to win at least one Bathurst in their careers.

Practice

Most of the 20 competitors got in the full seven laps during the first practice sessionthat got underway at 8:00am on Thursday, with Jason Bargwanna the quickest, due in most part to his experience at the circuit. A further six drivers, including Gary, got in six laps and Nick Stillwell only managing a couple before striking problems.

This session was the only opportunity drivers had to come to grips with the undulating and twisty circuit before qualifying later in the day.

Qualifying

Qualifying was at 2:40pm and conditions were ideal for some quick laps around the Mt. Panorama circuit. Jason Bargwanna was fastest yet again but the suprise was guest driver Matt Neal from the UK. He was just over a second behind Bargwanna first time in the car. Cousin Scott Bargwanna was right on Neal's tail for third place on the grid.

Gary was in 15th position about two seconds back.

Race 1

The scheduled 6 lap race was reduced to three laps.

Whilst Jason Bargwanna was the victor in Race 1 it was 2nd place Brent Collins who scorched the 6.2Km track in Race 1, setting a new lap record of 2:32.3514. Matt Neal's strong qualifying saw him finish 4th with Gary improving both his lap times and finishing position to take 13th.

Boris Said, the US driver, was listed in the Media car but unfortunately he failed to take part in the race. Said, the winner of the Nurburgring 24 hours and a semi regular on the NASCAR scene has never raced at  Bathurst but  he is renowned as a road course specialist in the United States where he won the 1997 and ‘98 Daytona 24 hour race as well as the 12 hour race at Sebring. 

Collins, the NZ Mini Challenge champion, showed his experience in these cars to chase Bargwanna

Race 2

A new lap record to Jason Bargwanna in Race 2 as conditions were ideal for racing. In fact the first eight finishers were all under the previous lap record in this 6 lap race. Gary managed a top 10 finish, improving on his previous best lap time by over two seconds.

Race 3

Times were well down from Race 2 with Jason Bargwanna making it a clean sweep for the weekend. The race was cut short, down from 6 laps to only two!