On his solo Supercars Championship debut, Tickford Racing Wildcard Zak Best was critical of the driving quality towards the back of the field.
A small incident in the first qualifying session yesterday meant that Best had to make his way from the back of the grid in both races.
In the second and final race he collided with Garry Jacobson on the run into the Turn 6 hairpin, the damage broke the steering on Best’s Mustang and sent him into the wall.
Best likened the racing at the back as very similar to that in the Dunlop Super2 Series and looks forward to racing ahead of it in the future.
“We were just struggling a bit with the guys around us roughing us up a bit,” Best said after the race.
“Obviously they don’t like the new guy coming in the category, but did our best to try and hold our ground and just came off second best.
“(Supercars is) obviously just another big step up as everyone says, but that wasn’t so much of a shock, the racing level down the back is probably very similar to Super2.
“Once we get some pace and make that next jump, we should be alright.”
The stewards handed Jacobson a drive-through penalty for the incident, but this did not undo the retirement for Best.
Best will return for his second Wildcard appearance next month at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia and is targeting qualifying gains.
“That was my first Supercars weekend here in Darwin, it was a very positive weekend even though the results don’t show it,” he expressed.
“I learnt a lot, I was just battling with a few guys in the back, it was good racing even though it was tough and hard, but I learnt a heap about how these guys race and how the tyres wear.
“I have a bit to work on with qualifying, I had a shunt in the first session this morning (Sunday) which knocked us out of both sessions, but we’ll build on it and go again in Tailem Bend, have another crack, and hopefully move further up there.”
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