When Supercars went racing on Anzac Day

Exactly a decade ago Supercars went racing on Anzac Day at Pukekohe where Brad Jones Racing carried on its Trans-Tasman success.

Below is the AUTO ACTION report of the unique Friday race in New Zealand on a special day.

He was the man of the moment at Pukekohe stake an early claim for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy after grabbing a pole-to-flag win on the ANZAC Day opening race.

The BJR driver rolled his car out with last year’s set-up and took advantage of the truncated practice and qualifying sessions to grab an impressive pole position.

Off the line it was Jamie Whincup who got the better start and sprinted into the distance while Bright, Craig Lowndes and Shane van Gisbergen tried to shadow the Holden driver.

Local favourite Scott McLaughlin was caught in a battle with former Dunlop Series sparring partner Nick Percat and when he fell behind the Walkinshaw driver the Kiwi tussled with Lee Holdsworth through Turn 11 as the pair struggled for traction through the high-speed corner.

As van Gisbsergen grabbed the advantage over Craig Lowndes across the line, David Wall brought out a Safety Car when his Falcon hit the wall at 190km/h after contact with Mostert.

“We were still side by side [after the hairpin] but I gave him a little bit of room in the first left but we had a small touch there so I gave him more room in the next one and basically thought I had right of way,” said Wall.

“I was about to turn right onto the main straight and felt contact onto the left rear.”

Mostert was more succinct in his take on things.

“He didn’t leave me much room there and on the second part of the corner forced me onto the kerb,” he told AA. “It takes two people to get through a corner, unfortunately.”

However, an unnamed DJR team member had a more circumspect view.

“It’s funny that Chaz seems to be doing more damage to our cars now that he’s driving for someone else!”

While Whincup continued to press at the front, his run was halted when a power steering problem forced him into the garage for a number of laps until he resumed to circulate and collect points.

“It felt like I got hit,” he told AA. “It was so aggressive in the wheel.” That left Bright up front to take the win from van Gisbergen and Lowndes.

“It’s been a cracker of a day because there was little track time and it felt wild in qualifying,” said Bright.

Away from the front, Garth Tander moved from 16th to ninth with a battle against Scott McLaughlin a highlight, while a late-race spin ended Mark Winterbottom’s run as top Ford.

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Podcast: Stunning Taupo Shines Through the Gloom | Supercars back in New Zealand

We’re back from our weekend in Taupo (Tow Paw), and what an unbelievable first weekend for that venue. It was, we felt, the start of this season, too, despite it being the third round. Andrew and Bruce were there, and PG was on the couch.

Brodie Kostecki was back for Erebus, Andre Heimgartner won for Brad Jones Racing, and Will Brown battled his teammate Broc Feeney for the other win. Anton De Pasquale also won the Jason Richards Trophy for the best performer over the two races – is Dick Johnson Racing back?