Courtney and Perkins win Gold Coast fuel-race thriller

Series returnee Courtney and co-driver Perkins claim fairy-tale Gold Coast win

After sustaining broken ribs and a punctured lung, James Courtney has returned to V8 Supercar competition in emphatic style, with victory in race two of the Gold Coast 600 alongside co-driver Jack Perkins — Jack's first V8 Supercar win. The combinations of Rick Kelly/David Russell (Nissan) and Garth Tander/Warren Luff (Holden) rounded out the podium positions.

"I've tried pretty hard for this, I'm just proud of what James and I could achieve," said an emotional Perkins following the win.

"I think we're gonna come back and try it all again next year. It's so good."

"The guys did a cracking job with the strategy. we had pretty good car speed, I can't thank Jack enough for standing in for me. Jack did an awesome job […] It really paid off this weekend," added Courtney.

Photo / V8 Supercars

A consistent trio of results over the endurance season sees Garth Tander and co-driver Warren Luff claim the outright Pirtek Enduro Cup for 2016, subsequently making Luff a back-to-back champion of the prize. The duo looked like potential race winners, but had to surrender their lead in the closing stages of the race.

"Great result obviously with [James] winning and us taking home the [Pirtek Enduro] Cup. We had to play the safe strategy there, we were always going to come in for a splash and dash. We were always hoping for a safety car, but it didn't come. Not a bad weekend," said Tander. 

Early race drama between New Zealanders Chris Pither and Ant Pedersen triggered the first safety car of the race. Whilst diving down the inside of Pedersen, the Super Black Racing driver came across the Wilson Security Volvo resulting in contact between the two. Pither sustained substantial damage bringing an end to his race.

"I feel like I was comfortably in the gap. Potentially they were running a left-hand wing mirror or something, but [Pedersen] just turned in and that was our day done," Pither stated after the incident.

Photo / V8 Supercars

With the majority of the field running a similar strategy, a string of poorly-timed safety cars for the front runners allowed for alternative strategies to take place. 

Courtney and car 22 elected to pit for more fuel under safety car whilst the leaders consolidated track position. Despite dropping to the back of the field, Courtney and Perkins' challenge for the win was aided by the front runners requiring to make an additional pit stop in the race. 

Craig Lowndes was the first of those safe to make it to the finish on fuel, but when leader Garth Tander pitted and returned ahead of Lowndes all chances of a Red Bull Racing Australia victory vanished.

Courtney and Nissan's Rick Kelly continued at the front conserving fuel, but with just one lap remaining the Holden Racing Team confirmed Courtney would be able to make it home, ultimately securing the win with Jack Perkins.

Photo / V8 Supercars

 

Kelly came home to second position, delivering co-driver David Russell his first ever V8 Supercars career podium finish. Tander/Luff and Craig Lowndes/Steve Richards rounded out the top four.

Despite a spirited challenge from Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen — which saw the New Zealander move past both Blanchard, Whincup, and McLaughlin late in the race — the Kiwi could only muster fifth position.

McLaughlin/Alex Premat (Volvo), Jamie Whincup/Paul Dumbrell (Holden), James Moffat/Taz Douglas (Nissan), David Reynolds/Dean Canto (Ford), and Michael Caruso/Dean Fiore (Nissan) completed the top ten. 

The V8 Supercar Championship now moves to New Zealand in two weekends time for the ITM 500 at Pukekohe Park Raceway.