The team at Wilson Security Racing headed down the road to the streets of Surfers Paradise for the Nikon Super GP, the second event on the 2009 calendar taking place at what can only be classed as a "home track' for the team.

Practice on the Friday took place in perfectly sunny conditions. The first session was used for the drivers Fabian Coulthard and Michael Patrizi to reaquaint themselves with the circuit. By the end of the third session both drivers had reduced their lap times by around 2 seconds and were placed 19th (Fabian) and 26th (Michael).

Qualifying was not kind to us with Michael dropping out after the first leg placed 27th and Fabian, although through to the 2nd leg, could only manage 17th and would again miss the shootout for the second event in a row.

The first race for the Saturday was run in very hot conditions with both cars suffering brake issues as a result. Fabian in the #111 car started well from 17th and was 4th on the track when he came in for his CPS on lap 13, doing rear tyres and fuel. Returning to the field in 19th, Fabian would only complete another couple of laps before a lack of brakes and a wheel lock up would see him into the wall at turn 3 and having to limp back to pit lane. With the #333 car coming in for its CPS, Fabian was forced to wait to be serviced in the teams pit bay but was then parked in the garage resulting in his 3rd consecutive DNF.

Michael behind the wheel of the #333 BF Rollasole Falcon was showing great race pace and had moved up to 22nd by the end of the first few laps. Pitting on lap 15, the #333 car was serviced with rear tyres and fuel and returned to the field placed 18th. Also suffering brake issues, locked rears would see Michael into the wall at turn 3 on lap 23, not disimilar to Fabian in the #111 car. The #333 car pitted to repair some panel damage and Michael continued to finish the race in 22nd.

Part B of Saturdays racing produced some much better results for the team, particularly the #111 car. Fabian started the race way back in 26th, not an area that he is terribly familiar with this season. Showing good race pace the team made the decision to leave him out there, being the 2nd last car in the field to pit on lap 21. Rejoining in 14th, the curse was finally broken and the run of DNFs finally stopped by finishing ironically in 13th place.

Michael in the #333 car started ahead of Fabian in 22nd but soon dropped back to 28th after losing track position in an attempt to pass McNally. Pitting on lap 11, serviced with 4 tyres and fuel, Michael rejoined in 27th and after again struggling with brakes finished in 26th.

Sunday dawned a new day, another qualifying session and another two races. Qualifying was a 20 minute session for all 29 cars with traffic playing a big part in hindering any really good lap times. Fabian in the #111 FG qualified 17th and Michael in the #333 BF further down the field in 26th.

As is always the risk when you start towards the rear of the field, it's difficult to avoid the carnage that is likely to occur around you on the start. Fabian in the #111 car made a great start and was travelling well until his car appeared off line and travelled sideways, along with the #14 car of Cameron McConville, into the wall prior to turn 1. It seems that Fabian was tagged by another car to start this series of unfortunate events but this is not clear on the footage of the incident.

The #333 car provided the team with the unenviable double (both cars DNF) when it lost all oil pressure on lap 8 and was immediately parked and shut down to avoid further engine damage. Michael was travelling well at the time and had moved up 5 places to 21st.

Extensive damage and very limited time prevented the #111 car from being repaired in time for the final race of the weekend. The #333 car although repaired, when started to go to the grid was found to have a recurring engine issue and was parked in the garage with the #111 car for the duration of the race.

A description of the overall weekend for the team is simply beyond words. All are keen to put this one behind them and concentrate on the job ahead at Phillip Island in two weeks time.

Results:

Friday

Practice 1

Fabian Coulthard 5^th
Michael Patrizi 11^th

Practice 2

Fabian Coulthard 16^th
Michael Patrizi 17^th

Practice 3

Fabian Coulthard 19^th
Michael Patrizi 26^th

Qualifying

Fabian Coulthard #111 17^th
Michael Patrizi #333 27^th

Saturday

Shootout

1. Winterbottom 1:50:9
2. Tander 1:51:22
3. Whincup 1:51:40
4. Bright 1:51:55
5. W.Davison 1:51:67
6. Dumbrell 1:51:76
7. Lowndes 1:51:84
8. Ingall 1:52:10
9. S.Richards 1:52:69
10. Courtney 4:17:67

Race 19 A

1. Winterbottom
2. Tander
3. W.Davison
4. Lowndes
5. Van Gisbergen
6. Murphy
7. S.Richards
8. Dumbrell
9. Ingall
10. Johnson

22nd Michael Patrizi
DNF Fabian Coulthard

Race 19 B

1. Tander
2. Winterbottom
3. W.Davison
4. Lowndes
5. Murphy
6. S.Richards
7. Van Gisbergen
8. Whincup
9. R.Kelly
10. Bargwana

13th Fabian Coulthard
26th Michael Patrizi

Sunday

Qualifying

Fabian Coulthard 17^th
Michael Patrizi 26^th

Race 20 A

1. Lowndes
2. Winterbottom
3. Tander
4. Ingall
5. Courtney
6. Johnson
7. Reynolds
8. Bright
9. Bargwana
10. J.Richards

DNF Fabian Coulthard/Michael Patrizi

Race 20 B

1. Winterbottom
2. Tander
3. Courtney
4. Bright
5. Johnson
6. Whincup
7. Murphy
8. J.Richards
9. R.Kelly
10. W.Davison

Driver #111 Car - Fabian Coulthard:

On Sunday mornings DNF - "It's really hard to know what happened, it was all too quick. I got a great start. I knew McConville was here (on left) and Holdsworth was there (on right) and then I'm not really sure what happened. I wish I could just write off the whole weekend, this place is never kind to me."

"The weekend was looking good. We didn't have the best qualifying but probably had the best race pace we have had all year. A disappointing weekend but we have made some gains in other areas. Unfortunately the boys have a bit of work to do."

Driver #333 Car - Michael Patrizi:

On Sunday mornings DNF - "I lost all oil pressure through the chicane and I just stopped the car and parked it to avoid any further damage. It's a shame cause we had good speed. At the moment this (DNF's) is the story of our weekend."

"What a disappointing weekend full of problems. What can you say!"

Team Principal - Paul Cruickshank:

"I am just really disappointed. The enduros were really disappointing and we were using this round to turn things around. I really don't know what we need to do."

Championship Standings:

1. Whincup 2605
2. W.Davison 2573
3. Tander 2316
4. Lowndes 2175
5. Winterbottom 1862
6. Johnson 1838
7. R.Kelly 1658
8. Holdsworth 1655
9. Ingall 1586
10. Caruso 1500

20^th - Fabian Coulthard 1203
27^th - Michael Patrizi 740

Team Championship Standings:

1. HRT 4579
2. Team Vodafone 4412
3. Jim Beam Racing 3334
4. FPR 3176
5. Garry Rogers Motorsport 3162

12^th - Wilson Security Racing 2083

Next Round:

Races 21 and 22
The Island 300
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
7th - 8th November, 2009

For more information contact:

Debbie McMellan
debbie@pcrnet.com.au