One track, two races and a title decider..
V8 Supercars Rnd#27/28 (December 2-4)
1 December, 2011
This is it, the final round of the 2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series, and whilst the title fight is on in earnest, so too is the fight for championship position outside the top ten, and for Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing [FDSR] pilot Karl Reindler, a chance to move forward in the points and end his second season in the 'main game' on a high.
As he did last year, Karl's pre-Hombush preparation included the opening triathlon of the season in WA, with the Brad Jones Racing [BJR] pilot taking victory in the 'Power Station' event against a field of several hundred competitors across a sprint distance, something which puts him in good stead for the twin 250 kilometre 'sprint' races as part of this weekend's Telstra 500.
"That was a nice result, and great training for the weekend ahead," Karl admitted.
"2010 has been a terrific year, with a number of highs mixed in with some pretty tough weekends, but this weekend after a couple of strong results, including a great run at Tassie last time out, we come into the final on equal points with Tony D'Alberto, who we've been tailing all season.
"The BJR team really put in a solid effort at Symmons Plains in what were at times very challenging conditions, and if not for a starter motor drama on one of our critical pitstops, we would have been inside the top ten again after qualifying just three tenths off pole.
"It's nice to have gotten back to where we were before the dramas at Perth [which will go down in Supercar history after that incredible start-line fire], with a car more than capable of matching the top ten regulars, for both our supporters and for me personally. When you have a couple of tough rounds where collectively as a team you're struggling to make the car work, it's nice to recover with a result that puts you right back into the mix.
"That said, this weekend we start afresh, and after dramas last year in both races at Homebush, I'm keen to record another solid result for Fair Dinkum Sheds and the whole BJR team. Again, we're on a tough, tight street circuit where there's little margin for error, as was shown last year where the title contenders were all out on Saturday in the rain. Showers are predicted again this weekend, but if there's one thing we know, things can change pretty quickly, so we're prepared for whatever mother nature will throw at us."
The 2010 Homebush event wasn't kind to the FDSR team, Karl out during practice as one of a number of cars to just clip the outside safety barriers, a situation which also plagued the team during the opening race. In Sunday's final though the West Australian was matching the pace of Saturday race winner Jonathon Webb before debris pierced his radiator, forcing his retirement just after mid-race.
2011 though provides a fresh opportunity to make amends, and Karl fully expects to be in the midfield mix again as he finalises plans for 2012.
"At this stage there is no reason why I won't be on the grid next year," he admitted, "but it's too early in the piece to say where, and to be honest, my main focus right now is to end the season on a high for Fair Dinkum Sheds and all our team sponsors.
"With the leading teams doing everything they can to settle championship positions, it will be a very interesting weekend. There's sheep-stations on the line for a number of drivers, some of whom are looking to impress their team principals ahead of driver lineup decisions next year, and others who are looking to stay inside the top ten in points, so anything could happen. Obviously we want to impress too, but I think to a point caution could play a part in the overall result as it did last year.
"We're a long way from finished yet, and I can't wait to get on track and be back in the thick of it!"
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2010 Telstra 500 - Race One
1. Jonathon Webb (DJF Falcon) - 69 laps
2. Jason Bright (BJR Commodore)
3. Rick Kelly (JDR Commodore)
4. Steven Johnson (DJR Falcon)
5. Fabian Coulthard (HRT Commodore)
DNF. Karl Reindler (FDSR Commodore)
2010 Telstra 500 - Race Two
1. Lee Holdsworth (GRM Commodore) - 74 laps
2. Steven Richards (FPR Falcon)
3. Shane Van Gisbergen (SBR Falcon)
4. Steven Johnson (DJR Falcon)
5. Jamie Whincup (Triple 8 Commodore)
DNF. Karl Reindler (FDSR Commodore)
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2011 Telstra 500 - Race Schedule
The following times are Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time
Friday December 2, 2011
Practice 1; 10:35 - 11:05am
Practice 2; 11:55 - 12:25pm
Practice 3; 1:15 - 1:45pm
Practice 4; 2:55 - 3:25pm
Saturday December 3, 2011
Qualifying; 10:20 - 10:40am
Top 10 Shootout; 12:25 - 12:55pm
Race One (V8SC Series Race 27) - 74 laps**; 3:05pm
** 74 laps (250km) or one lap after 5:15pm
Sunday December 4, 2011
Qualifying; 10:40 - 11:00am
Race Two (V8SC Series Race 28) - 74 laps**; 3:05pm
** 74 laps (250km) or one lap after 5:15pm
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2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series (points after race 26)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 3033 points
2. Craig Lowndes (Holden) - 2845
3. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) - 2449
4. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) - 2414
5. Garth Tander (Holden) - 2388
6. Will Davison (Ford) - 2345
7. Rick Kelly (Holden) - 2211
8. Lee Holdsworth (Holden) - 1857
9. Alex Davison (Ford) - 1781
10. Fabian Coulthard (Holden) - 1767
26. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Holden) - 1045
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2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series Calendar
Rnd#1 - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi (February 12) - KRR DNF
Rnd#2 - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi (February 13) - KRR 11th
Rnd#3 - Clipsal 500, Adelaide (March 19) - KRR 19th
Rnd#4 - Clipsal 500, Adelaide (March 20) - KRR 17th
Non-champ. - Australian F1 Grand Prix (March 24-27) - 18th / 19th / 15th
Rnd#5 - ITM 400, Hamilton, NZ (April 16) - KRR 17th
Rnd#6 - ITM 400, Hamilton, NZ (April 17) - KRR 13th
Rnd#7 - Trading Post Perth Challenge (April 30) - KRR 7th
Rnd#8 - Trading Post Perth Challenge (May 1) - KRR DNF
Rnd#9 - Trading Post Perth Challenge (May 1) - KRR DNS
Rnd#10 - Winton Motor Raceway, VIC (May 21) - KRR 20th
Rnd#11 - Winton Motor Raceway, VIC (May 22) - KRR 23rd
Rnd#12 - Skycity Triple Crown, Darwin (June 18) - KRR DNF
Rnd#13 - Skycity Triple Crown, Darwin (June 19) - KRR 25th
Rnd#14 - Sucrogen Townsville 400 (July 9) - KRR 22nd
Rnd#15 - Sucrogen Townsville 400 (July 10) - KRR 24th
Rnd#16 - City of Ipswich 300 (August 20) - KRR 9th
Rnd#17 - City of Ipswich 300 (August 20) - KRR 16th
Rnd#18 - City of Ipswich 300 (August 21) - KRR 16th
Rnd#19 - L 500, Phillip Island, VIC (September 18) - KRR 28th
Rnd#20 - Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, NSW (October 9) - KRR 14th
Rnd#21 - Armor All Gold Coast 600 (October 22) - KRR DNF
Rnd#22 - Armor All Gold Coast 600 (October 23) - KRR 22nd
Rnd#23 - Falken Tasmania Challenge (November 12) - KRR 24th
Rnd#24 - Falken Tasmania Challenge (November 13) - KRR 20th
Rnd#25 - Norton 360 Sandown Challenge (November 19) - KRR 20th
Rnd#26 - Norton 360 Sandown Challenge (November 20) - KRR 17th
Rnd#27 - Sydney Telstra 500 (December 3)
Rnd#28 - Sydney Telstra 500 (December 4)
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TELEVISION SCHEDULE SEVEN NETWORK
Please check local guides for confirmation;
Saturday December 3, 2011
12:00 - 2:30pm: Qualifying and Top 10 Shootout
2:30 - 5:30pm: Qualifying and Race 1
Sunday December 4, 2011
12:00 - 5:30pm: Qualifying and Race 2
RACE REPLAYS - SPEED CHANNEL (FOXTEL Channel 505)
Please check local guides for confirmation;
Saturday, December 3; 9:30 - 12:00pm (Race One replay)
Sunday, December 4; 11:00 - 1:00pm (Race One replay)
Sunday, December 4; 9:30 - 11:00pm (Race Two replay)
Monday, December 5; 2:30 - 4:30am (Race One replay)
Monday, December 5; 4:30 - 6:30am (Race Two replay)
Monday, December 5; 2:00 - 4:00pm (Race One replay)
Monday, December 5; 4:00 - 6:00pm (Race Two replay)
Tuesday, December 6; 8:30 - 10:30pm (Race One replay)
Tuesday, December 6; 10:30 - 12:30am (Race Two replay)
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Karl Reindler is proudly supported by Brad Jones Racing, Fair Dinkum Sheds, Yale, Wilson Security, Thompson Aviation, Westrac, EMT, JSW Drilling, National Tyres, Herbalife, Fitness First, Focus Bikes, Zise and Sponsorxchange.com.
For further information please contact Media Manager Damon Hill on 0411 669 910, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.karlreindler.com