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V8SDS: Optima Sport Wakefield Park race report

CLARK SEALS SEVENTH AT WAKEFIELD PARK Optima Sport's David Clark recorded a notable seventh placing at round two of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Goulburn's Wakefield Park in New South Wales this weekend. Clark, in only his second start ...

CLARK SEALS SEVENTH AT WAKEFIELD PARK

Optima Sport's David Clark recorded a notable seventh placing at round two of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Goulburn's Wakefield Park in New South Wales this weekend.

Clark, in only his second start aboard a V8 Supercar, showed tremendous race craft to elevate himself from his 16th qualifying position to finish this morning's opening 17-lap stanza in 11th.

He continued this form in the reverse grid, second race of the round, to maneuver his way from 23rd and move up 14 positions to record his first top ten race finish aboard a V8 Supercar.

"Now that was a lot of fun," said Clark at the completion of the reverse grid race.

"The aim was to keep out of trouble and there were several incidents in the last part of the race.

"We also got a solid amount of points under my belt to ensure a good starting position for the final race, so that was pleasing."

The four-time Australian karting champion started from seventh on the grid for the longest race of the round to be contested over 30-laps around the 2.2 kilometre circuit.

After the opening lap Clark had elevated himself into fifth position and was engaged in a battle with Luke Youlden and fellow rookie Shane Price. When Youlden passed Clark on the third lap it opened the gap for Price to move up a position relegating the Optima Sport pilot to sixth.

When the safety car was deployed to retrieve the stranded car of Brett Loadsman, Clark had built a handy buffer over seventh placed Jack Perkins.

Despite battling brake problems late in the race Clark maintained his position to cross the line sixth and finish seventh overall for the round, he was the second "rookie" placed driver for the round.

"Our aim coming into the weekend was to finish inside the top ten, and we achieved that aim," said Clark.

"I can't help but be pleased with this result in only my second round in a V8. To be right there knocking on the door of the bigger teams is very pleasing.

"We had some dramas with our set up yesterday during qualifying but the Optima Sport team worked tirelessly overnight to provide me with a fast race car during all of today's three races.

"As was the case in Adelaide, overall we've achieved a lot over the weekend and I look forward to moving even closer to the front when we head to the next round at Queensland Raceway."

Optima Sport Team Owner David Macdougall was pleased with the team's performance over the weekend.

"I'm very proud of David and the team for their efforts to finish in seventh overall for the round," said Macdougall.

"We lost our way a little bit during qualifying yesterday but the recovery with three good races today was very pleasing.

"We've got a lot of respect for the teams up the front but we're aiming to get amongst them in a short amount of time."

Fellow Ford driver Adam Macrow won his second consecutive round to extend his championship lead. Luke Youlden finished the round as runner-up ahead of Nathan Pretty. Clark's result elevated him to 11th overall in the championship standings.

-bam

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