Cat Racing Oran Park raceday report

V8 Supercar Shell Championship Series
Raceday Round Eight Calder Park

Troubled Day For Cat Squad In Oran Park V8 Battle

Cat Racing endured a tough struggle at Sydney's Oran Park raceway today in round eight of the Shell Championship Series.

Bowe failed to finished the opening race of the day after suffering a water pump/power steering belt failure, but the day started badly when two team mechanics were injured during the morning warm-up.

Neil Barton and Kevin May were injured when Greg Murphy's Commodore caught one of the team's airhoses as he exited the adjacent pit box.

Murphy's car pulled down the Cat team's pit boom and air bottles, striking Barton and May. Both were transported to Liverpool Hospital.

May (back injury) was admitted overnight for observation.

Barton is expected to remain in hospital for a few days after undergoing surgery for a head injury. He also suffered broken ribs in the incident.

Team manager Les Laidlaw and team member Garry Goldsworthy stepped in to replace the injured duo during the pit-stops.

After failing to finish the first race, Bowe raced from 27th on the grid through to 14th at the end of race two.

"We have had a pretty tough day, but the main thing is the fact that the boys will be OK," Bowe said.

"The pits can be a pretty dangerous place, but for this to happen during the warm-up is very unfortunate.

"We were lucky to be flooded with offers of help from the other teams including Larry Perkins whose spare pit boom we borrowed for the races.

"The danger of the pits has been highlighted this year with all the extra pit-stop races but I am sure AVESCO and CAMS are looking at ways to make things safer and improve the medical facilities in the pit area itself."

The Briggs Motorsport squad will now prepare for the first two-driver event of the year at the VIP Pet Foods Queensland 500. <pre> RACE ONE - 36 laps 1. - Skaife (Holden) - 44:52.571 2. - Lowndes (Ford) - 44:58.191 3. - Besnard (Ford) - 44:59.284 4. - Kelly (Holden) - 45:06.774 5. - Johnson (Ford) - 45:09.882 6. - Tander (Holden) - 45:12.581 DNF BOWE (CAT FORD) - 20 laps

RACE TWO - 36 laps 1. - Skaife (Holden) - 43:03.602 2. - Besnard (Ford) - 43:10.605 3. - Bright (Holden) - 43:12.031 4. - Johnson (Ford) - 43:20.251 5. - Ingall (Holden) - 43:21.519 6. - McConville (Holden) - 43:23.195 14th BOWE (CAT FORD) - 43:47.836

-CR-