Symmons Plains: Kelly Racing race 2 report

BARGWANNA 17TH AFTER TOP QUALIFYING FOR KELLY RACING

Jason Bargwanna has posted a 17th place finish in the second race of the Falken Tasmania Challenge at Symmons Plains Raceway near Launceston today.

Earlier in the day Kelly Racing had the best qualifying session in its short history, with three of its Commodores earning top 10 starting positions for the first time since the team was launced in March 2009.

Rick Kelly qualified in sixth place on the grid in wet conditions, with Todd Kelly in seventh and Bargwanna in ninth.

In the early stages of the race all three drivers battled for positions in the top five, but each succumb to overheating front brakes in the middle stages of the race as the track dried.

Bargwanna was able to hang on in the 84-lap race to score 17th place finish, a result hurt by his fading brakes and not a true indication of the speed of his #11 Rock Commodore.

Tony Ricciardello had an action packed race aboard the #16 Stratco Commodore, crashed off the circuit by Dean Fiore mid-race.

Ricciardello was able to rejoin the race after quick repairs from the Kelly Racing crew, but a gearbox problem eventually ended his race early.

Mark Winterbottom won today's race ahead of Paul Dumbrell and Jason Bright.

V8 Supercars will race next weekend at Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne, Victoria for the Norton 360 Challenge.

KELLY RACING QUOTEBOARD:

JASON BARGWANNA - #11 Rock Holden Commodore

"It was an extremely positive qualifying session backed up with a really good opening stint of the race," said Jason Bargwanna.

"We had a little off-track excursion that cost us a few spots, but we were looking at getting back up in the top five or six spots.

"But our run on the soft tyres once we switched back to slicks made our brakes go off really badly. It's something we have never experienced before so we will have to look into it.

"As it turned out in the end it was not too bad a result given we were wounded with the brakes, but we obviously have some work to do so that we can turn our qualifying pace into better results at Sandown."

TONY RICCIARDELLO - #16 Stratco Holden Commodore

"We were actually progressing quite well during first part of the race," said Tony Ricciardello.

"We made up quite a few places and then had really good pace on the soft tyres when we went back to slicks.

"Out of nowhere Dean Fiore just nailed the back of me and put us into the sand trap.

"It's a shame because it means that the crew has got quite a lot of work to do and we've only got a couple of days before Sandown.

"We got back out there but we had a gearbox issue and that saw our race end early.

"It was a long, hard day for the boys but we showed some potential in the early stages of the race so hopefully that helps us for Sandown."

-source: kelly racing