Bathurst: WPS/WOW Racing race report

WPS/WOW RACING EARNS BEST-EVER BATHURST FINISH WITH SEVENTH

BARGWANNA AND WILSON SEVENTH WHILE DENYER AND CARUSO SCORE POINTS WITH 15TH

WPS/WOW Racing has achieved its best ever Bathurst finish and its best result for the season with seventh place for drivers Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama today.

Bargwanna drove the #8 WOW Racing Falcon home on the lead lap in slippery conditions to earn 33 championship points for both he and Wilson and improve the Gold Coast-based team's previous best Bathurst finish of eighth place in 2005.

To reinforce the strong form of the team in today's 161-lap event, Grant Denyer and Michael Caruso drove the #10 WPS Racing Falcon home in 15th position, scoring six points for their efforts.

WPS/WOW Racing was one of only four teams to bring both its cars home in the points today at Mount Panorama as many teams struggled with light rain in the closing stages of the event.

The team's continued engineering progress was also on display today as both cars were among the few to change brake rotors during their pit stops, with the brake disc changing system developed for the event working well on both cars.

Bargwanna started the race from 21st position and moved his way into 16th position at the start. The 2000 Bathurst 1000 winner then drove a steady first stint to hand the WOW car to Wilson in a strong position on lap 35.

Wilson then drove a tremendous double stint, pumping out consistent lap times to move up the order and hand the WOW car back to Bargwanna on lap 89 while in fourth position.

Bargwanna then completed a remarkable 72-lap stint in the #8 WOW Racing Falcon to finish the race, coming in twice during that time to top up on fuel and on the second occasion fit four slick tyres.

Despite the wet the circuit in the closing stages Bargwanna and the team sided with slicks for the finish of the race, a decision that paid off as Bargwanna moved his way forwards through the pack.

After the last stop of the day for the WOW car on lap 135 Bargwanna sat in 14th position but worked his way up the order to eventually finish seventh to score his best finish at Bathurst since driving to fifth in 2004.

The day was not only the best round result for both drivers this season, but Wilson's best ever Bathurst finish, eclipsing the previous best Mount Panorama for the Brazilian of 12th in 2003.

The solid finish by Denyer and Caruso gave Denyer his second straight top 15 finish at Bathurst. The Seven Network TV personality was ninth in his Bathurst 1000 debut last season. For Caruso today saw the Sydneysider achieve his first points in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup won today's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 ahead of James Courtney and David Besnard and the combination of Steven Johnson and Will Davison.

WPS/WOW Racing will race in its home event in two weeks time as the Gold Coast-based team competes in the Lexmark Indy 300, Round 11 of the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series, on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ...

Jason Bargwanna -- #8 WOW Racing Falcon

"With all the dramas we had with our car over the weekend this result is just outstanding," said Bargwanna.

"It was a long stint at the end there and it took a bit out of me but when the circuit was wet we had good speed and I was able to pass some cars.

"In the wet I made sure I just felt my way around the circuit for a couple of laps before really pushing.

"I had Skaife charge past me and I was pretty happy to let him go past. Not long after a lot of cars went off so it kind of justified my patience.

"Seventh is a great reward for the team. The crew has been working hard on the car all weekend and a lot of preparation has gone into this weekend.

"We have come away with a good result and this is a great reward for all the crew's efforts."

Max Wilson -- #8 WOW Racing Falcon

"My best ever Bathurst finish certainly feels pretty good," said Wilson.

"Bargs started the race and gave me the car in a good position. The car felt great straight away and we were able to set some good lap times at a consistent pace.

"The team gave us a great car and worked hard all weekend to make sure we had everything right for the race.

"Bargs drove really well and we both put in double stints. Lots of drivers crashed out and made mistakes but we managed to make sure the car stayed straight and got to the finish.

"I'm happy for the whole team because this is a good result and a nice reward for all the efforts that have gone into this weekend."

Grant Denyer -- #10 WPS Racing Falcon

"At the end of the day it is great to come away from the toughest race of them all with another solid finish," said Denyer.

"It's only my second crack at it and I kept it on the track, passed some cars and brought it home in the points.

"We ran with a fuel strategy that depended on some early safety cars. They didn't come and we really didn't get many safety cars all day until the last part of the race.

"It meant that we dropped off the lead lap and the new blue flag rules meant that we had to yield to a lot of cars during the day.

"In the wet weather in the end there our car was good. It was effectively time to just have fun because being a lap down we couldn't improve my position, but we still passed some cars and showed a bit of pace in the wet.

"This result was a great team effort. I learned a lot and I have to thank everyone for their support, because the WPS/WOW Racing crew are certainly a great bunch of guys to be around."

Michael Caruso -- #10 WPS Racing Falcon

"It was a tough race and I'm happy to get my first Bathurst finish and some championship points," said Caruso.

"It was a great experience and I have to thank everyone in the team for their support.

"This was a weekend of ups and downs but this team just works so hard and never gives up and in the end we all pulled through.

"Grant drove very well in the wet and brought the car home with a good finish. The team switched him to wets for the last part of the race and it paid off."

Craig Gore -- WPS/WOW Racing Team Owner

"This result shows what teamwork and determination can achieve," said Gore.

"We had our share of poor luck and problems early in the weekend but the boys worked hard at making sure we had two strong race cars. Sunday was always our priority.

"Our strategy did not work out on either car, but we kept at it and brought both the WOW car and WPS car home in the points.

"All our drivers performed well and our cars ran strongly for the entire race. I'm proud of the entire team and what they have proved today and this result will give us a boost for the last four rounds of the season.

"Getting our best Bathurst result shows that we are a team on the rise. This is one tough race to conquer but the entire team worked hard and got us a great result."

-credit: wpsracing.net.au