Gaunt takes V8 Supercar podium

Auckland race driver Daniel Gaunt claimed his first ever podium in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar series, finishing third overall for the triple-race weekend at Melbourne’s Sandown Raceway.

The fourth event for Gaunt in the McElrea Racing run VnC Cocktails/Mad Butcher BF Falcon, the 24-year-old was second overall on weekend points, heading in to the final race.

Having never driven the 3.1 kilometre circuit before, Gaunt qualified seventh, finishing race one fifth and the second race in fourth – awarding him a front-row start for the final.

“It was a fairly fraught last race to be honest. The first podium for Dan and us as a team, so we’re pretty stoked really,” said ex-pat Kiwi and team owner Andy McElrea.

“He started on the outside of the front row; David Russell started on the inside, braked late in to turn one which pushed Dan wide and off the track, so when he rejoined the track he’d lost over four positions,” he explained of the seventh place finish.

Gaunt said the result still gave them enough points to stay on the podium: “We got fairly equal starts, but the guy on pole ran wide and I couldn’t turn down to take the corner, so I just B-lined it for turn three and dropped a few spots. But we knew what we had to do to remain on the podium and that’s what that race was about in the end. If we’d had a cleaner start we might have been able to hold on for a win.”

Limited overtaking opportunities was another characteristic Gaunt learned of the circuit – against a field of regulars at the Victorian venue.

“It looks very simple on a track map, but when you get out there it’s a lot more challenging than first thought. Turn six, over the top of the hill, is definitely one of the more challenging,” he explains of the circuit. “You’re approaching at 260km/h, have a dab at the brakes, change down one gear, turn in and away you go again. And because a lot of the guys have done a lot of miles around here already – I’d be the only driver who hasn’t been out there before.”

“It’s very narrow where there are good overtaking opportunities, so you’ve only got a small window to work with. But it’s very dirty offline and gets worse during the weekend, so come race three when everyone is on their game it’s very difficult to pass.”

With the car built and supported by Stone Brothers Racing, Gaunt was able to draw on the prior experience of main-game drivers Alex Davison and fellow Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen.

“Last night, at dinner Dan spent a lot of time talking with Alex and Shane about how much curb he can take at what corner and where he can make other gains. So he’s been learning the circuit all weekend to be fair,” added McElrea.

Having three weeks until the next round on the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar calendar, the Queensland based team have a ‘home’ weekend. Set 55 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, it is part of the Willowbank motorsport complex near Ipswich.

“We’re heading to our home track now where I’ve done a few test days and really enjoy the circuit. Our McElrea Racing SBR built car has done a lot of laps around there so we shouldn’t have as much of a disadvantage as tracks I haven’t been to before,” added Gaunt.

Already having track experience at the 3.12 kilometre paperclip shaped race circuit; Gaunt says he has a strong supply of information to help him even further:

“My engineer is part-time with SBR as well – where he spent the last nine years, so he’s my first point of contact. And with the whole Stone Brothers support, it has just been great; Ross and Jimmy help me out immensely with affairs. Jimmy personally fixed the car following the last round so I know it’s done right. They’re a die-hard team and they support Andy (McElrea) with what we’re doing.”

Ends.

Results: http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?02/08/2009.SAN

Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series - points for round four (Sandown)
Pos Driver Total

1 David Russell - Ford Falcon BA 256
2 Grant Denyer - Ford Falcon BF 224
3 VnC Cocktails/The Mad Butcher Daniel Gaunt - Ford Falcon BF 218
4 Damian Assaillit - Ford Falcon BA 216
5 Jonathon Webb - Ford Falcon BF 212
6 David Sieders - Ford Falcon BF 194
7 James Moffat - Ford Falcon BF 192
8 Brad Lowe - Ford Falcon BF 186
9 Sam Walter - Holden Commodore VE 158
10 Shane Price - Holden Commodore VZ 152