WEDNESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2007
SIMONSEN FIFTH AT BATHURST 1000 FOR TEAM 888 VODAFONE
Last weekend Allan Simonsen, the Danish/Aussie hired gun, justified to his Triple 8 / Team Vodafone boss, Roland Dane, just why he'd been given the most prised V8 Supercar enduro gig, for the second year in a row.

He and Irish team mate, Richard Lyons, a regular in the ultra competitive Japanese SuperGT Championship and A1GP, went quietly about their business on The Mountain, bringing the teams second car home in a strong 5th place, having led the race earlier in the day.

Simonsen put in a career best performance during the last 15 laps, in slippery conditions and whilst on slicks, challenging the best V8 Supercar drivers in the business - Greg Murphy, James Courtney, Steve Johnson and eventual winner Craig Lowndes - in a show that kept the trackside fans and nationwide televison viewers rivited until the last corner.

Roland Dane would have been delighted – he's a strong believer in giving international drivers a chance in a category that favours the locals in a very big way. After all, he is an Irishman.

Four places in front of Simonsen, on the top of the podium was an Aussie hero – Craig Lowndes and his very much up-and-coming team mate, Jamie Whincup.
The pair had acheived back to back wins including the traditional lead-up Sandown 500 event, four weeks prior. Their win, and the early demise of V8 Supercar Championship leader, Rick Kelly, with brake problems, elevated Whincup to the championship points lead with only four rounds to go.

Like Lowndes and Whincup, Simonsen and Lyons enjoy each others company, are similar in size and weight, can turn vitually identical lap times and have enormous experience in 1000km races, having competed extensively in the Le Mans Series and FIA GT Championship.

Simonsen was the elected start driver and made a good clean start to pick up two positions by the time he'd crossed the top of The Mountain for the first time.

After the fuel drama at Sandown and becoming delayed in the pits whilst the 888 was being serviced the team elected to employ unique pit strategies to each Vodafone car at Bathurst.

But this time, both Team Vodafone cars had equal outright pace yet the fuel strategy was vastly different. For car #88 the it was a gamble that in the end didn't reward.
FUEL STRATEGY
Car 88 Simonsen / Lyons
Car 888 Lowndes / Whincup
Lap In
Laps
Pos In
Pos Out
Lap
Laps
Pos In
Pos Out
25
25
12
25
35
35
1
2
54
29
8
13
70
35
1
10
86
32
1
9
97
27
1
11
98
12
8
19
133
36
1
4
129*
31
10
16
        
Finish
32
5
Finish
28
  
1
* front left wheel nut stuck
        

Lyons had to pit from the lead on lap 86, whilst sitting behind the pace car, which dawdled down the pit lane entry. A stuck from wheel nut on lap 129 caused further delay.

What was clear is that Car 88 was a race winner all day long.


Lowndes won. Simonsen 5th

Unfortunately a wheel nut became stuck on the final lap 98 pitstop but this is what can happen in long distance endurance racing.

After the final stop (L129), Simonsen worked his butt off to get car 88 back into the top ten and in a challenging position. He set the 4th fastest lap of the race only to have the race neutralised once more by Paul Morris, who'd spun his VE Commodore at the cutting (L145), trawling out the Safety Car for its final appearance.

And then the final race was on:

"Those last ten laps were really full on. I was in the middle of the freight train going up the hill and as we came through Sulman Park, Jason [Bright] hit the wall. There was really nowhere to go but I threw the car left and only just missed him. Ingall also lost out but I managed to get through the debris cleanly. I thought there'd be another Saftey Car but they didn't. That set up the mega battle to the end. We all just tippy-toed through McPhillamy and along Skyline – it was that slippery on slicks. Then the rain started a bit more and it was a real game of poker."

The best International pairing since 2001

Car 88 led The Great Race on lap 86
"I so happy with our performance at Bathurst this year and whilst we managed 5th, a podium was on the cards all day long. I'm also pleased to have set the fourth fastest race lap in an extremely competitive championship against true Australian racing icons. Another fantastic moment was to lead The Great Race"

"But that said, once again I'd like to thank the entire team at 888, especially Roland for the opportunity, Richard for doing a superb job and Campbell for his race wisdom and the kind words on the radio."
RESULTS - 2007 SUPERCHEAP AUTOS BATHURST 1000
Position
Drivers
Team
Car
Qualified
Shift
1
Craig Lowndes / Jamie Whincup
Vodafone / Triple Eight
Ford Falcon BF
6
+5
2
James Courtney / David Besnard
Jeld-Wen Motorsport
Ford Falcon BF
8
+6
3
Will Davison / Steven Johnson
Jim Beam Racing
Ford Falcon BF
4
+1
4
Greg Murphy / Jason Richards
Tasman Motorsport
Holden Commodore VE
7
+3
5
Allan Simonsen / Richard Lyons
Vodafone / Triple Eight
Ford Falcon BF
14
+9
6
Steve Owen / Tony D'Alberto
Autobarn Racing
Holden Commodore VE
23
+17
7
Jason Bargwanna / Max Wilson
WPS Racing
Ford Falcon BF
21
+14
8
Alex Davison / Andrew Thompson
Jim Beam Racing
Ford Falcon BF
20
+12
9
Cameron McLean / Greg Ritter
Valvoline Cummins
Holden Commodore VE
11
+2
10
Steve Richards / Mark Winterbottom
Ford Performance
Ford Falcon BF
1
-9