CAT Racing - Canberra races two/three report

Cat Racing hero John Bowe pulled out two barnstorming drives to make up 14 positions in both races at the GMC 400 on the streets of Canberra today.

After yesterday's retirement in the opening race, Bowe charged from the rear of the grid in race two to reach 17th place - setting the fastest lap of the day in the process.

Bowe repeated the effort in the final 50 lap race, finishing in 11th place after starting from position 25 on the grid.

Clever pit-stop strategy in the final race, nearly pushed the Cat Falcon into the top ten.

Bowe pitted on lap two for tyres and lap nine for fuel, getting both compulsory stops completed prior to the first safety car period.

The strategy lifted Bowe up to ninth in the closing stages of the race.

However, severe tyre at the finish resulted in him be pushed - literally - out of the top ten.

"The tyres were pretty sad at the finish but we had to take that strategy to improve track position," Bowe said.

"I had a few guys run into me at the finish to push me down a couple of spots which didn't impress me, but I suppose with the style of circuit, it was always going to happen.

"Overall, we are disappointed with how the weekend went, but I was very pleased with how we fought back this weekend.

"We've had good luck at Adelaide and Eastern Creek, then bad luck at Darwin and Canberra - hopefully for Queensland things will turn around again."

Holden drivers Todd Kelly (reverse grid 25 laps) and Craig Lowndes (50 lap final) won the two races on the day with Steven Richards taking the overall round victory.

Bowe is now eagerly awaiting the return to Queensland Raceway for the next round of the championship - the scene of last year's pole position and race victory.

"Queensland Raceway is now our home track so I am really looking forward to the next round," Bowe said.

"The team certainly showed our car was fast this weekend, we just need to work harder - the harder you work, the luckier you become.

"I hope that saying rings true because we have worked very hard lately and are not about to stop that effort."

<pre> RACE TWO - 25 laps 1. - Kelly (Holden) - 45:44.377 2. - Crompton (Ford) - 45:46.877 3. - Johnson (Ford) - 45:55.554 4. - Richards (Holden) - 46:10.578 5. - Jones (Ford) - 46:13.595 6. - Skaife (Holden) - 46:14.184 7. - Perkins (Holden) - 46:15.723 8. - Seton (Ford) - 46:16.690 9. - Radisich (Ford) - 46:18.624 10. - Lowndes (Holden) - 46:21.103 17. - BOWE (CAT FORD) - 46:54.567

RACE THREE - 50 laps 1. - Lowndes (Holden) - 1:42:04.937 2. - Skaife (Holden) - 1:42:05.181 3. - Seton (Ford) - 1:42:17.307 4. - Kelly (Holden) - 1:42:19.145 5. - Richards (Holden) - 1:42:28.571 6. - Crompton (Ford) - 1:42:40.862 7. - Perkins (Holden) - 1:42:43.724 8. - Radisich (Ford) - 1:42:44.039 9. - Longhurst (Ford) - 1:42:52:272 10. - Morris (Holden) - 1:43:02.161 11. - BOWE (CAT FORD) - 1:43:11.147