Team VIP Petfoods lead driver Craig Baird started his championship defence in style with a thrilling win in round one of the Carrera Cup at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide today. The Gold Coast driver led to the important first turn of the third and final race this afternoon and held on in masterful fashion to record the round victory.
Coming into the final race, Baird and rival Alex Davison were locked at one race win apiece and tied on points. As has been the way in most Carrera Cup races held at the Adelaide street circuit, the driver who leads to the first turn has gone on to win the race.
“It all comes down to the start here in Adelaide, †said Baird. “It is more like a drag meeting than a race meeting. “If it was Alex (Davison) who led to the first turn then he would’ve gone on to win and likewise with David (Reynolds). “It’s a good way to start the season – two race wins and pole position – especially over a field with the likes of Alex and David who finished last season off so strong. â€
Baird finished just ahead of Davison and Reynolds in the third race with the trio enjoying those same positions for the round. Fellow Team VIP Petfoods campaigner Klark Quinn placed ninth in race three to also finish ninth overall for the round.
Team Owner Tony Quinn’s day ended prematurely when he was struck from behind on the opening lap and careered into the wall on turn nine. Fellow privateer Shaun Juniper broke late coming into the turn and clipped both Quinn and Rodney Jane.
The Team VIP Petfoods number 29 Porsche came out the worst and had to be towed off the track with considerable front end damage. Juniper also retired from the race after making it back to pit lane. Tony Quinn’s performances in the first two races enabled him to finish a credible 15th for the round. In race two this morning, Davison led Baird to the first corner before setting some blistering lap times including a new Porsche lap record to take the race win and even the ledger with the Team VIP Petfoods star.
Baird held onto second with Klark Quinn collecting another top 10 finish and Tony Quinn 13th. Making it more of a successful day for Team VIP Petfoods, Sydney based dry cleaner Paul Kemal won his second race in the Aussie Racing Cars this weekend to finish second overall for the round.
The 32-year-old from Balmain was too good in a one-lap dash to the checkered flag after a mid-race crash at the turn eight sweeper brought out a safety car. Kemal led home main rival James Ward in the fourth and final race but had to settle for runner up for the round. His electrical problem in race two on Friday that caused him to finish seventh was the difference between him and Ward over the Clipsal 500.
“I finished second overall so that is a good start to the season, †said Kemal. “Today the track was quite slippery and I had to change the motor overnight after a gearbox problem yesterday. “Nevertheless I still managed to pull away for a second race win. It was just race two that cost us another spot higher on the podium. †The Team VIP Petfoods Porsches and Aussie Racing Car now head to back to the workshop before contesting the FORMULA 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne from March 15 to 18.
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