The biggest challenge of the year arrives..
PREVIEW: Karl Reindler Racing, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
V8 Supercars Rnd#20 (October 6-9)
5 October, 2011
It's finally here, the one race every V8 Supercar driver wants to win, to have the chance to hold aloft the Peter Brock Trophy at the annual Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at the iconic Mount Panorama.
For the Fair Dinkum Racing Shed's duo of Karl Reindler and David Wall, they, like so many other pairings in this historic event, find themselves in a position to challenge the series favourites under the endurance format, but for the Brad Jones Racing [BJR] pairing, their chances receive an added boost..
In almost every Bathurst 1000 in recent years, BJR cars have featured strongly both in qualifying, and during the race, something which Karl admits will play into their favour..
"The way we set the cars up works really well at Bathurst," he agreed. "We have a baseline setup which we take to most circuits, but it just seems to work so well here.
"On top of that, BJR always go well with race strategy, they're prepared to take a risk when they need to, and they have a good understanding of timing in this race."
So far as strategy is concerned, Karl admits that the early focus will be on settling in.
"Bathurst isn't a circuit you can afford to charge at from the start - it's very unforgiving and it takes time to find the flow that everyone talks about when they're looking to put in a quick lap. We were fast here last year, so most of the early stages or practice will be running through different setups and balances, then maybe some race setup on heavy fuel, then we might consider having a crack on new tyres so we know what to expect.
"Chances are I'll start the race, that seemed to have worked well here the last few years - having the lead driver start.
"Every time you come to Bathurst you gain a huge amount of knowledge. What I've learned from last year will make this year easier - it's just a big bank of data, skills and experience that build every lap; you just have to extract it all."
Whilst the endurance format allows two drivers to share the laps, the physical nature of Bathurst means that there's also some serious work for the drivers to do in preparation.
"It's a tough event physically," Karl agreed, "so the training's been ramped up the last few weeks. I've tried to actually put on a few kilos since Phillip Island, so I'm feeling really good in that department."
So what is the secret to Bathurst from a team's perspective?
"Consistency is important until the final hour - you're just trying to set yourself up to have the best car possible in the best condition, and with a decent set of tyres - all ready for that final attack.
"Last year was a fantastic showing for us - to be running inside the top five at the completion of the final safety car period was an amazing feeling. The intensity at the end is unbelievable, it's Bathurst, everyone wants to win it and they're prepared to try anything to get there.
"My first time running that high [in the field] at Bathurst was quite intimidating, and I was probably a little fatigued from finishing on a double stint, but everything I learnt from last year will give me a huge amount of confidence going into this years race."
2010 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000
1. Craig Lowndes/Mark Skaife (Triple 8 Commodore) - 161 laps
2. Jamie Whincup/Steve Owen (Triple 8 Commodore)
3. Garth Tander/Cameron McConville (HRT Commodore)
4. Jason Bright/Matt Halliday (BJR Commodore)
5. James Courtney/Warren Luff (DJR Falcon)
15. Karl Reindler/David Wall (FDSR Commodore) - 161 laps*
(19 seconds behind the race winner after six hours and 13 minutes)
2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 - Race Schedule
The following times are Australian Eastern Standard Time
Thursday October 6, 2011
Practice 1; 10:40 - 11:30am
Practice 2; 12:55 - 1:40pm
Practice 3; 1:05 - 1:55pm
Friday October 7, 2011
Practice 4; 9:25 - 10:10am
Practice 5; 11:00 - 11:50am
Qualifying; 2:45 - 3:25pm
Saturday October 8, 2011
Practice 6; 10:25 - 11:15am
Top 10 Shootout; 3:45 - 4:30pm
Sunday October 9, 2011
Warm-up; 7:45 - 8:05am
Race (V8SC Series Race 20) - 161 laps***; 10:30am
*** 161 laps or one lap after 5:15pm
---------------------------------
2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series (points after race 19)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 2145 points
2. Craig Lowndes (Holden) - 2053
3. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) - 1716
4. Rick Kelly (Holden) - 1585
5. Garth Tander (Holden) - 1548
6. Will Davison (Ford) - 1544
7. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) - 1447
8. Steven Johnson (Ford) - 1411
9. Alex Davison (Ford) - 1334
10. Jason Bright (Holden) - 1280
26. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Holden) - 703
---------------------------------
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)
Rnd#21 - Armor All Gold Coast 600 (October 22)
Rnd#22 - Armor All Gold Coast 600 (October 23)
Rnd#23 - Falken Tasmania Challenge (November 12)
Rnd#24 - Falken Tasmania Challenge (November 13)
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)
---------------------------------
TELEVISION SCHEDULE SEVEN NETWORK
Please check local guides for confirmation;
Friday October 7, 2011
1:00 - 4:00pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
12:30 - 3:30pm: Adelaide, Darwin
11:00am - 2:00pm: Perth
Saturday October 8, 2011
12:00 - 5:00pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
11:30 - 4:30pm: Adelaide, Darwin
10:00am - 3:00pm: Perth
Sunday October 9, 2011
7:00am - 6:00pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
6:30am - 5:30pm: Adelaide, Darwin
5:00am - 4:00pm: Perth
RACE REPLAYS - SPEED CHANNEL (FOXTEL Channel 505)
Please check local guides for confirmation;
Thursday October 6, 2011: 7:00 - 8:00pm (SPEED News Australia)
Friday October 7, 2011: 7:00am - 8:00am (SPEED News Australia)
Friday October 7, 2011: 12:00 - 1:00pm (SPEED News Australia)
Friday October 7, 2011: 6:30 - 7:30pm (SPEED News Australia)
Sunday October 9, 2011: 10:00pm - 2:00am
Monday October 10, 2011: 3:30 - 7:30pm
Wednesday October 12, 2011: 5:00 - 9:00am
---------------------------------
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 .