Heading out for the first test session on Saturday morning with a freshened car, Andrew was confident of building on last year’s data.  Initially the car was struggling for rear grip but after a couple of tweaks, things were improving.  The car was feeling okay but there was still room for improvement, so Andrew was surprised to finish the session as seventh fastest and first Holden.

Following our hot lap session, further changes were made to the set up for the second test session.  However, this unbalanced the car and the team reverted back to an earlier set up.  Andrew was over half a second slower from the first session and was tenth quickest.

Analysing the issues, the team worked on a set up for qualifying.  However, Mother Nature decided to make things interesting again and light drizzle started to fall on the track.  Getting heat into the tyres, the car was struggling to come on and with no grip, balance was an issue.  Posting a time in the bottom half of the top 20, Andrew came into the pits.  Approaching the final turn, the brake pedal went to the floor.

Bleeding the brakes in the pits and adjusting the set up, Andrew had three minutes to get on the track and post a time.  With an unreliable brake pedal, the car struggled and after touring the gravel trap due to a brake lock up, it was all down to one lap to climb out of position 21.  

“Doing my best was not good enough as the car set up was not capable of achieving the required time.  Although my time improved by a couple of tenths, it was not enough so 21st it was to be” commented Anderson.

The brake master cylinder was replaced over night and the ITM Racing team were focused on improving on their start position in race one.  Rolling to the start of the first race, Andrew got a great jump at the start and was making progress through the field on the run through turn 1 and into the infield.  Approaching the hairpin, Andrew was on the outside line and another car bumped into his left front wheel damaging the steering and knocking Andrew off the track.

After a trip through the pits, the team gave the all clear to circulate at the back of the field a lap down and gain some points.  Between races the team replaced the damaged ball joint and realigned the car.

Starting race two from grid position 21, Andrew elected to take a more conservative approach to the opening lap and made progress as the race established itself.  Following a short safety car period, Andrew was able to gain further positions to push into the top 10 and finish in a solid 8th place.  The car had performed okay but was still in need of some improvements to make further improvements.

For the reverse grid race, Andrew started from 11th position.  It was a tussle for position in the opening lap, but being able to slot through Andrew was soon on the move forward to be in fourth place early on in the race.  Unable to bridge the gap to the Fords, Andrew settled into a rhythm.  

Watching in the mirror the freight train of Fords closing in, there was nothing Andrew could do to defend against them. Although making them work for each pass, it was trying to prevent the inevitable and one by one they bumped Andrew down to be 9th at the finish of the 22 laps.

“Obviously there is still some work to be done in the team to close the gap to the speed of the Fords.  We are throwing everything at them but seem to be hitting a performance brick wall that we are yet to knock down” commented Anderson.

Andrew finished the round in 13th and is sitting 9th in the championship.

Media: Amanda Green, ITM Racing