“Unforeseen issue” behind Team 18 Bathurst battle and odd DNF
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 9 October 2023
Team 18 has revealed an “unforeseen issue” hurt them at a tough 60th anniversary Bathurst 1000 where Mark Winterbottom and Michael Caruso’s solid race ended in strange circumstances.
The highest placed Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was Scott Pye and Warren Luff, who were a lap down in 17th position.
But there was heartbreak for the #18 of Mark Winterbottom and Michael Caruso as they retired one lap from the chequered flag.
The veteran duo were looking to finish what had been a challenging weekend on the cusp of a top 10 finish, running 11th.
But when the fuel light came on, Winterbottom needed to make a late splash and dash on the penultimate lap.
However, it occurred at the worst possible moment as the pit exit closed whilst Winterbottom was still rolling through the lane due to van Gisbergen taking the chequered flag.
As a result Winterbottom was unable to complete the final lap after more than six hours of racing having risen from their lowly grid position of 19th.
Winterbottom revealed the weird reason for his first DNF at Mount Panorama since 2017.
“I know you’ll be thinking, wait he was 11th with one lap to go how did he DNF,” Winterbottom posted to social media.
“With three laps to go my pit for fuel light came on, I was called in for fuel on the last lap, but the leader crossed the finish line before I exited pit lane so the light went red and pit lane closed.
“As I didn’t complete the last lap I wasn’t classified a finisher. As for our week, my crew did a brilliant job of preparing the car and executing an enormous amount of changes, but in this sport if one person makes a mistake it is very costly.
“It feels cruel for us all to have raced all day and not come away with a finishing position.”
A quote-less press release from Team 18 revealed not only car #18, but also the sister car #20 entry had suffered the same fate.
Pye and Luff were in 14th position as the chequered neared on a day not without trouble following contact with Andre Heiimgartner.
But they also required a late fuel stop on lap 159 meant they had to settle for an 18th place finish.
Team 18 stated it was an “unforeseen issue”.
“Team 18 faced unexpected challenges during the iconic Bathurst 1000,” it read.
“Despite a promising start, both DEWALT Racing and Toyota Forklifts cars were forced to pit for a splash of fuel in the closing laps of the race.
“With the checkered flag within sight, an unforeseen fueling issue struck both cars, necessitating an unscheduled pit stop to refuel.
“This setback ultimately resulted in a 17th-place classification for Pye, while Winterbottom had to pit just as the race winner crossed the finish line, leading to a non-classification.”
Following the tough trip to Bathurst, Team 18 hopes to bounce back on the streets of Gold Coast to October 27-29.
Main image by Mark Horsburgh EDGE Photographics
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