So close yet so far..
V8 Supercars Rnd#23/24 (November 12-13)
On paper Karl Reindler's weekend in Tasmania, is nothing to write home about, that is until you delve a little deeper into the results..
Frustratingly for the Brad Jones Racing [BJR] team, the weekend was marred by a similar issue to the most recent round at the Gold Coast where all three cars were struggling to get power down at various parts of the circuit, and whilst they were all quick through other sectors of the lap and at times less than half a second off the pace-setters, that placed them well down the order.
Unfortunately for Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing's [FDSR] Karl Reindler, his issues also stretched to mechanical dramas, with Karl's crew concerned about an engine drama which despite much diagnosis and monitoring they could not find. In the end, to be safe, they made a change on Friday night ahead of qualifying for Race 23.
"The day started off well," Karl admitted. "We were pretty happy in P2 [Practice 2] but I didn't get the most out of the braking zones because of traffic. But still, we were only two-tenths off the fastest time and things were looking really good.
"As soon as we started P3 the engine had an unusual harmonic noise. We tried to figure out what it was but we couldn't find the problem. We were going to take it out but thought we'd start P4 and see what we could come up with, but there was no conclusion.
"We're changing the engine for tomorrow, which is a relief but at the same time we've not been able to focus on the set up changes that we wanted to so I don't know if we've been left behind a little bit."
Qualifying saw some improvement, but the time lost to chasing the engine gremlin had cost the FDSR team valuable setup time, Karl qualifying P26, to start on the row immediately following team-mates Jason Bright and Jason Bargwanna, all three BJR entries separated by just four one hundredths of a second, and just half a second off pole.. it was that close.
Karl made a strong start and was quickly up a number of spots with team-mate Bargwanna close behind. To make up for lost ground the team elected to 'run long' before pitting, Karl coming in from a strong P3 as the Safety Car came out on lap 24 after Greg Murphy lost a wheel.
Sadly, the team's efforts to move Karl up the order were thwarted by a cross-threading wheel nut costing him valuable track position, the Fair Dinkum Sheds pilot rejoining in 25th position. From there Karl fought his way through to 24th, immediately behind a very 'wide' DJR Falcon pilot Steve Johnson.
"Our brakes were really good but, coming off the corners, we really struggled so I couldn't really make the most of the strengths of the car," Karl said afterwards.
"We made up a few cars by the time the Safety Car came out but in the pit stop the engine stalled coming into pit lane, which cost us a couple of seconds, and then we had a wheel nut jam. Thankfully the Safety Car was out and we re-joined at the back but we probably should have been around 21st. "Then I got stuck behind Steve Johnson. I had pace on him; in fact the car would have probably been okay in clear air, but I couldn't get close enough to actually capitalise."
Sunday was a new day, and it was clear that with time to work on setup, the Fair Dinkum Sheds team were capable of moving Karl forward, and he didn't disappoint, recording the BJR team's strongest qualifying result of the weekend, 18th - three tenths off pole position (and ahead of reigning champion James Courtney), and almost four tenths faster than team-mates Bright and Bargwanna.
Being mid-pack in V8 Supercars is never ideal, especially around Symmons Plains where passing opportunities are limited and any slight lapse in concentration is punished by an instant loss of position. Karl started strongly again, and despite losing a couple of positions, quickly fought back to maintain station as the pit stop cycles started.
Again the team elected to run long, Karl pitting under green flag conditions from third position, rejoining in P23. After regaining a couple of positions and locked in a titanic battle with Ford's Tim Slade, Karl added his name to the list of drivers who 'frightened' the camera on the Armco fence on the exit of turn three, and continued to move forward.
He pitted once again on lap 51 and started to work his way back through the field again, on his way to an eventual 20th placed finish, having lost ground to 'new' team-mate Cameron McConville - who was subbing for an injured Jason Bright - on the final lap.
"In the end we made the most of what we had," Karl reflected post event. "If we'd had more time to work on setup early, that may have made a difference, but we also lost time in the pits during Saturday's stop, so you don't know.
"We had great pace on Sunday, but Symmons Plains is such a tough circuit to race on because we're all so close, so it's a matter of attacking whilst you're also defending. The passing opportunities are limited, but it's the same for everyone. Qualifying is critical - typically you finish somewhere around where you start - so it is important for everyone, and a tenth [of a second] can mean five places on the grid..
"I had a great time, it's always such a great place to come and race because the local fans are just so passionate about V8 Supercars.
"It was also nice to have the pace of my team-mates and make the most of the opportunities we had today to show just how competitive the Fair Dinkum Sheds Commodore can be."
And that's it for Tasmania for another year, now it's a quick one week turnaround for the Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing team before the penultimate round of the championship at Sandown in Melbourne this coming weekend [November 18-20].
2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series - Race 23,
Falken Tasmania Challenge, Symmons Plains, TAS (November 12, 2011)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 50 laps
2. Craig Lowndes (Holden)
3. Garth Tander (Holden)
4. Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
5. Will Davison (Ford)
6. Alex Davison (Ford)
7. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford)
8. Fabian Coulthard (Holden)
9. Michael Caruso (Holden)
10. James Courtney (Holden)
24. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Holden)
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2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series - Race 24,
Falken Tasmania Challenge, Symmons Plains, TAS (November 13, 2011)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 84 laps
2. Will Davison (Ford)
3. Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
4. Paul Dumbrell (Ford)
5. Craig Lowndes (Holden)
6. Garth Tander (Holden)
7. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford)
8. Todd Kelly (Holden)
9. Jonathon Webb (Ford)
10. Fabian Coulthard (Holden)
20. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Holden)
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2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series (points after race 24)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 2817 points
2. Craig Lowndes (Holden) - 2623
3. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) - 2215
4. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) - 2201
5. Garth Tander (Holden) - 2187
6. Will Davison (Ford) - 2096
7. Rick Kelly (Holden) - 1977
8. Lee Holdsworth (Holden) - 1713
9. Alex Davison (Ford) - 1664
10. Fabian Coulthard (Holden) - 1614
26. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Holden) - 946
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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 - Coates Hire Ipswich 300 (August 20) - KRR 9th
Rnd#17 - Coates Hire Ipswich 300 (August 20) - KRR 16th
Rnd#18 - Coates Hire 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)
Rnd#26 - Norton 360 Sandown Challenge (November 20)
Rnd#27 - Sydney Telstra 500 (December 3)
Rnd#28 - Sydney Telstra 500 (December 4)
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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
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