Roller coaster day completes PremiAir’s home event

PremiAir Racing got deep into the spirit of the Gold Coast and enjoyed its first ever home race, which ended with a roller coaster day of emotions.

The rookie squad showed off its excitement with a new Surfers Paradise inspired livery for James Golding, who shot his Subway machine straight into the headlines on Sunday morning.

After qualifying P14 on Saturday, the #31 surged into the Top 10 Shootout on Sunday with a last-gasp lap in Qualifying to bump Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Broc Feeney out.

It created the first Shootout appearance for both Golding and PremiAir, and the pair were elated.

“It is unbelievable. We have been improving and improving every time we hit the track,” Golding said on Supercars TV after the lap.

“It has been a little bit of a difficult one for us this weekend, just trying to get the car into the right window and we did not even quite nail it then.

“I just had to work a bit harder inside the car with adjustments and stuff like that and just got through by the skin of our teeth.

“I am super excited.”

James Golding started Sunday on a high getting into the Top 10 Shootout. Image: Supplied

“He (James) is coming along and I honestly don’t believe we have seen the best of him yet, this is great for the team and morale,” said PremiAir owner Peter Xiberras.

“One of my things I wanted to tick off this year was a Top 10 Shootout and here we are.”

After Golding moved one spot up the grid after a clean Shootout lap, all was looking promising for a big result in the second and final race of PremiAir’s home event.

The #31 driver managed to hold onto a top-10 position after the first three laps, but the fun came to a crashing end at the Beach Chicane.

Golding got crossed up at the back end of the four-pronged right-left section halfway up the back straight of the circuit and straight-lined the final kerb.

In doing so he could not avoid the tyre bundle stationed on the final left-hander of the chicane and kicked it onto the racing line and in the path of the chasing pack.

After collecting the barriers, the stricken Golding had to endure many more substantial impacts as the helpless pack were left with nowhere to go and careered into him.

James Golding collects the tyre bundle at the Beach Chicane. Image: Fox Sports

Thankfully after the horrifying sequence of events, the 26-year-old escaped without serious injury and issued a sincere apology to the vast amount of drivers affected by the incident, which blocked the track and brought out the red flag.

“We had a good start to the day, putting the car in the Top Ten Shootout and then getting another position in the Shootout to start P9 for the race. I had a solid start, but then unfortunately I made a mistake on the back chicane and came unstuck and was in a pretty big crash,” Golding said.

“I am very disappointed and sorry to the team for my mistake, it was human error, and I am sorry also to the other teams and drivers involved as well.

“It is not something you want to see and there are a lot of damaged cars out there, it certainly wasn’t a good way to end our weekend. Hopefully we can rebuild and move on and do better next time.”

After the accident Golding was seen in the paddock with his wrist strapped, but PremiAir Racing confirmed Golding had sustained no fractures after a CT Scan was completed on Tuesday.

“A CT scan on Jimmy’s wrist and hand has confirmed there is no serious damage,” the team wrote.

“It is just a bad sprain which will soon heal up nicely.

“Jimmy and the entire team would like to say thank you for all of the messages of concern and support.

“We really appreciate all of your well wishes.”

Despite the heartbreaking end to what could have been another impressive result for the #31, the other side of PremiAir Racing garage salvaged some pride.

Veteran Kiwi Chris Pither saved his best performance of the year for the first event after his departure from the team was announced.

Pither was able to avoid the chaos and finished the day in P9 to secure his first top 10 of the season and fourth as a full-time driver.

Whilst the other side of the garage suffered enormous pain, Chris Pither put his head down to score his top result of 2022 on Sunday. Image: Supplied

While devastated for his team-mate, Pither was pleased he could deliver the team a best for 2022 result in the #22.

“When this place bites, it bites hard, and I was so sorry to see what happened to Jimmy and I am glad that he is a-okay,” he said.

“We just managed to get around that incident and so we were able to continue on, and while it was an action-packed race for sure with multiple safety cars and plenty going on, we kept our heads down, our nose clean, and chipped away at it to make sure we brought home the best result possible.

“To be able to bring home the best result the #22 has had this year is something I am really happy about. 

“Hopefully we can take this momentum and continue into Adelaide and see if we can do even better.”

The result gives PremiAir something to cheer about from a bruising home race and Pither a much-needed confidence boost ahead of what could be his final full-time race in a Supercars career, which began back in 2006 in the Bahrain desert.

Pither, Golding and PremiAir will aim to end a season full of firsts on a high at the VALO Adelaide 500 on December 1-4.

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