Triple F Racing Bathurst 1000 race report

Top 20 at the Mountain for Triple F

#12 Triple F Racing: Dean Fiore

Photo by: Chris Von Wieldt

Triple F Racing endured the highs and lows of Mount Panorama at the weekend, with a very strong car in wet conditions, but struggled to find speed in the dry on the Dunlop hard compound tyre. However, the driver combination of Dean Fiore and Michael Patrizi were able to bring the #12 FG Falcon home for the team's first ever finish in the grueling Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Both drivers were able to maximize the car speed in wet and mixed conditions in the Thursday and Friday practice sessions, with Fiore setting the 6th fastest time in practice 1.

Friday's qualifying session was the first dry run of the weekend, and the team was left on the back foot in regards to a dry setup. By being a one car team you don't have the luxury of comparing data and setup with a team mate.

The team therefore decided to take a chance on a compromised setup for the race due to the lack of dry laps around the 6.2km circuit. This proved difficult for both Fiore and Patrizi to extract speed over the tumultuous 161 lap journey, after starting in 28th position.

Despite the threat of rain there was none of any significance to affect the race allowing all starters to use Dunlop slick's throughout.

Fiore had a spin on the exit of Murray's corner and whilst the car sustained no damage, the team was forced down a lap. However, with a change of strategy the team managed to peg back the lap to remain on the lead lap until the dying minutes of the race.

Having struggled with outright pace throughout, the car actually managed to find some legs towards the end of the race, where Fiore set his fastest time on the 2nd last lap of the race, with the team taking the chequered flag in 20th position.

"I am very happy to get to the finish of this grueling race. I was disappointed with the lap speed that we had in the dry, but it is just great experience to finish and get the monkey off my back and look towards next year.

"I was lacking confidence with the car over the weekend and you just can't get away with that at a track like Bathurst, it's a circuit that needs to be attacked," Fiore commented.

Patrizi was also pleased to see the chequered flag at the end of that race commenting, "I am happy that Dean and I managed to get to the end of the race.

"There is no hiding that we lacked car speed, and I believe Dean and I did the best job possible with what we had, and the team provided us with a car that made the distance without any failures.

"I want to thank Triple F Racing for the two endurance rounds this year that I have partnered with Dean."

The V8 Supercars move back to Queensland in a fortnight's time at the Gold Coast 600, where Gianni Morbidelli will be sharing driver duties with Dean Fiore from 21-23 October.