SCS: MW Racing damage update 2005-04-29

Damage delays West's Return to Saloon Car competition.

Adelaide, April 29th, 2005 - South Australian Saloon Car team MW Racing have been fighting a war in the last fortnight -- a war to fix the damage that the team's #53 Holden Commodore endured in a heavy shunt at the recent second round of the RDA rotors, EBC brakes Saloon Car series' at Mallala raceway a fortnight ago.

The heavy congestion in the Saloon Car field - even in the Saturday practice session -- meant that when driver Mick West was turned around in Saturday's practice session carnage was sure to result. It did -- West clouted by another car as he spun towards the infield of the racetrack. The impact then pushed the car into the wall ending what was a rough ride.

The car received significant damage to both sides and the front nose / bonnet, forcing the team to work overtime to repair it all before this weekend's opening round of the South Australian State Motor Racing Series.

Unfortunately the team has had to withdraw from the battle for the time being, as the sheer weight of work that was needed to bring the car back to health could not be completed in time for this weekend's event at Mallala.

The forced layoff for West comes as the team was finding new levels of competitiveness' out of the Commodore -- something that had West fired up for the local series'.

"It's a real shame that the damage to the car was too severe for us to be out on the track at Mallala this weekend, because the pace we were showing - even in the early stages of the weekend -- was really promising," he said.

Damage on the car included major damage to the front bar, Left and right front gaurds and bonnet, radiator support panel and bent front chassis rails -- amongst other things.

"There was a lot of work to do on the car, and believe me it wasn't for a lack of trying that we haven't been able to get it back out for this weekend," the Adelaidian explained.

"Now we will be able to repair the car at our own pace and make sure we get it back together without rushing things before the next round of the State Series."

The rebuild -- expected to cost thousands -- has not failed to dent West's confidence for when the car does hit the track again.

""We were setting some very good times last time out, close to our best around Mallala so things were looking good," he said. "Once the car is back we should be able to run right at the front of the State Series' field."

-www.mwracing.com.au