Team Betta Bathurst race notes

Longhurst puts the first Ford across the line.

Tony Longhurst and Mathew White drove an impressive race today in the Team Betta Electrical car 66, crossing the line in sixth position whilst also being the first Ford home in today's Bob Jane T-Mart 1000.

Both drivers drove a faultless race continually building on their original grid position of 21.

Today's race saw Longhurst set about systematically climb the leader board and leaving other competitors in his wake.

By lap 19, Longhurst had climbed to sixteenth position and went on to further improve his standing by another three positions by lap 31.

Lap 31 saw the first driver change with Mathew White taking the helm and continuing to build on their position.

By lap 69 car 66 was holding down 10th position and circulating at consistent times.

The second driver change occurred at lap 75 with Longhurst once again taking control and pushing the car into seventh position overall.

Longhurst said the car ran so well in all areas although it was around a half second a lap slower than the leading bunch today, it was still a pleasure to drive.

Mathew White again took control and on lap 104 findi himself in the lead, only to be overtaken a short time later by the leading Commodores in the race.

Longhurst then took over for the final stint behind the wheel to stroke the car home for the final 32 laps of the race with the car holding down seventh position and could only improve one position by crossing the finish line in sixth position outright for the day.

Longhurst said this is my twentieth start at the Mountain achieving a win with Mark Skaife in last year's event and winning again back in 1988.

I enjoy the strategy involved in campaigning such a long race and know it suits my style of racing he said.

The second Team Betta Electrical racecar 65 was driven by Max Wilson and Dean Canto this entry had a less than successful finish in the race.

Canto was negotiating Skyline when the Cat car 600 driven by Dale Brede spun in front of him and came to rest across the circuit Canto tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a passage around him but in doing so ended against the wall and out of the race.

Both drivers were disappointed with their outcome, as they were in seventh position at the time and climbing.

Wilson said we were going so well and the car was handling great and speeds were very consistent. Championship Standings (after 10 rounds)

"It appears I will have to come back next year to complete this unfinished business," he said.

-tbe-