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Second for Gaunt at Bathurst

Saturday 10 October 2009, 6:26PM

By McElrea Racing

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Second for Gaunt at Bathurst
Second for Gaunt at Bathurst Credit: McElrea Racing
Auckland's Daniel Gaunt in the VnC Cocktails/Mad Butcher car finished second overall for the Fujitsu V8 Supercar weekend of racing at Bathurst.
Auckland's Daniel Gaunt in the VnC Cocktails/Mad Butcher car finished second overall for the Fujitsu V8 Supercar weekend of racing at Bathurst. Credit: McElrea Racing

V8 Supercar driver Daniel Gaunt has today finished second overall for the two-race Fujitsu development series build-up to the Sunday Bathurst 1000 kilometre feature.

Driving the VnC Cocktails Mad Butcher Ford Falcon BF, 24-year-old Gaunt thrilled his McElrea Racing team by taking the victory dais after a rain hampered final race around the Mount Panorama circuit.

His first time at the holy-grail of race weekends, Gaunt was saluted by his Kiwi led team, with head Andy McElrea saying the young Aucklander’s performance was faultless around a circuit known for its treachery.

“Our absolute highlight for the season,” started McElrea. “Both races were faultless under intense pressure – he just held his head, didn’t make any mistakes and kept his confidence to stay out front.”

Having qualified sixth fastest, Gaunt moved to third in the Friday opening 14-lap race and finished fourth in the rain-shortened ten lap race this afternoon. His cumulative results compared to other drivers placed him second for the weekend of the seven round championship series.

“I got shut-out at the first turn, so I just had to keep my nose in there and stay in touch with the leading pack,” said Gaunt after the start was delayed for teams to switch to wet race tyres.

“With the additional laps in the Stone Brothers V8 Supercar it has strengthened my confidence to be committed in areas others take with more caution.”

Gaunt’s best Fujitsu V8 Supercar weekend result to date, he said the real reward goes to his team: “They’ve been so well prepared to cope with my jumping between cars that it could have really worked against us. Instead we could analyse more data between this and the SBR V8 Supercar to help get the car right – the rest was up to me. So it’s fantastic to give both teams, my supporters and sponsors a solid result.”

Gaunt now focuses on Sunday’s 1000 kilometre journey that he will share with fellow Kiwi John McIntyre in the #4 IRWIN/SP Tools Racing Falcon.

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Results: http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?11/10/2009.MOUN.R7
http://www.natsoft.com.au/cgi-bin/results.cgi?11/10/2009.MOUN.R1