APR: CVW Manta Racing Sunday notes

NO LUCK FOR CVW MANTA RACING IN SYDNEY

Steve Cramp's horrendous run of luck in the Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship has continued at Sydney's Oran Park Raceway today, the Adelaide driver taking away 14th and 20th place finishes from today's two races, respectively.

Now surely in the midst of one of the most unluckiest seasons in Australian motorsport on record, Cramp was unable to utilize the performance shown by the CVW Manta Racing in the opening race Saturday, a myriad of dramas besetting the team and leaving them scratching their heads about which ladder it was the team walked under before the season began.

Today's second race, conducted over 15 laps, started well -- the CVW Engineering HSV making solid progress to run 8th by mid race. After slipping slightly towards the end of the heat, a blown tyre punctured any hopes of a decent top ten finish, the car crawling across the line on three wheels in an eventual 14th position.

The round's final race, another 15 lap affair held in the Sydney sunset, went from bad to worse for the HSV, Cramp twice being turned around in a torrid affair.

Suffice to say, 20th position was not the result the team wanted -- or expected heading into the round.

"I don't know what we have done to deserve the luck we have had this season, but you have these years in this game and we just have to work through it," mused Cramp after the meeting.

"It's obviously disappointing that we haven't been able to get the kind of results we think we deserve, because we have been working extremely hard to develop the car and make progress, especially after almost completely rebuilding it since the last outing in Darwin.

"We proved yesterday the pace the car has got, we just need to find some of that luck that has eluded us so far." He said.

Already placing the disappointments of Oran Park behind him, Cramp said after today's second race that he was confident their fortunes would change during the final two rounds of the championship.

"We're coming away from here with a straight car which is always a positive," he said. "I think the final two rounds of the series -- at Symmons plains in Tasmania and Phillip Island -- will really suit us, assuming the luck is with us.

"The car has good horsepower that will be perfect for Tasmania, and good balance which will help us out at Phillip Island. We need to make sure we end the year on the strongest possible note to give us a good lead into the next season."

The weekend's results drop Cramp to 12th in points; still in contention for a strong top ten season's finish should the final two rounds go to plan.

And with the next round of the championship in Tasmania not to be held until November, Cramp and the CVW Manta Racing team will be watching out for black Cats and the odd ladder each and every day until the penultimate round.

-cvw-