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On the Bubble: HJR

There are only two rounds left for the 2022 Logitech G Pro Invitational series and the all-important top 20 positions in tightening up.

In 20th on 836 points is Chris Coxhead, but not far behind on 812 is teammate Brett Loxton.

With a 55-point gap in front, and a larger gap behind, it could very well come down to which one of these two make the top 20.

We had a chance to sit down and talk to the teammates about what making the top 20 means to them.

Thanks for joining us gentlemen. It seems to be coming down to the two of you as to who gets the automatic qualifying for next year's series.

First to you Chris, what do you think your chances are with two rounds to go? Confident of making it in?

Belle Isle has been a favourite of mine and I've done well there in the past, but I can't say the same about Phillip Island. I'm not feeling super confident about staying in the 20 to be honest but will give it a good crack.

And to you Brett, what are your thoughts?

I think I can make it in but with me and Chris being so close anything could happen. We seem to have finished very very close all season.

The good news is that with two of you battling for 20th spot is that the team should have a car on the grid for next year. The bad news is that one of you will miss out and must go the long way around to try again. How do you go about the next two races?

Chris: I think if there's a possibility of us working together to pull a decent result of course we'll do that, but otherwise we'll race each other as hard as anyone else out there. Knowing our history it's likely we'll be near each other in the races. The unicorns are magnets or something…

Brett: Same as usual, just do the best I can and try keep the car out of trouble and bring home as many points I can.

Now that the enduros have finished, how did you find them? Did they meet your expectations?

Chris: With both enduros I would have liked to have been another 5-10 places up the road, but it's so bloody difficult with how competitive the field is. At Sandown our strategy didn't pay off due to the lack of safety cars. Then at Bathurst I feel like we were constantly on the back foot due to the drive thru and then some damage, towards the end of the race we were using the safety car to try and get the car repaired and stay on the lead lap but the car didn't feel super strong and it was difficult to move up through the field. In the end it was definitely good to finish both races and once again super consistent and clean driving from Henry, so mega thanks to him!

Brett: I didn’t meet my expectations. I feel like I didn’t do a good enough job of maximizing what we had. The events themselves went quite well, although some of the driving was far more aggressive than I was expecting for an enduro.

How important is it to you to make the coveted top 20?

Chris: To be honest I'm pretty happy with being anywhere around the 20. Ultimately Brett has more pace than me, but hasn't had the luck this season. Regarding next year; it's a bit of a question mark at the moment with other commitments on the way. Whatever the result, it's been great racing all year and I've had a fun time so I'm pretty content with it all.

Brett: I would say important, but i think that’s more just for my ego, hahaha. I’m not too worried now that i know that if I don’t then Chris will be in, and if I don’t make the twenty it just means I'll have some more race seat time in the car which is something I've been lacking.

And finally, in one word, who makes it. Chris or Brett?

Chris: Brett will get me I think and make it in.

Brett: Chris has a head start, it will be great for the team to get one of us in.

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Kostecki & Meyers Clash at the Mountain

As the closing stages of the 2022 Logitech G pro invitational series Bathurst 1000 heated up, Two drivers in particular took the battle to new heights.

Lap 158 was one of the talking points of the race with contact between Brady Meyers & Brodie Kostecki bringing many opinions post race. The final restart commenced on lap 153, leaving 9 laps to get the job done. From the moment green flag racing resumed the battle between Kostecki & Meyers was on!

Everything came unstuck for the SSR and TTR spearheads on the exit of the chase on lap 158, Brady on the offence managed to obtain overlap on the exit of turn 21 which lead to both drivers being side by side for turn 22. Brady on the inside ran door to door with Brodie, slight contact on exit saw Brodie find himself with 2 wheels in the grass.

With this intense battle coming to a head, contact continued to follow with both drivers not willing to give a inch. This allowed TTR’s Madison down to capitalise on the situation along with Ethan Grig-Gault. Madison charged through to take control of second followed by Brady.

What the TTR duo couldn’t see was the out of control Brodie Kostecki who was clashing with ERT’s Grigg-Gault. As both cars neared the braking zone battling to maintain their positions contact was made, firing the #99 SSR/Boost Mobile Racing Commodore through the grass on approach to the final corner. Brodie became a complete passenger spearing directly into the door of Meyers narrowly missing the second placed car of Maddison down.Both cars made the tyre barrier on the  outside of the final corner resulting in severe damage but we’re able to complete all of the 161 laps.

Brady and Brodie will both definitely be ruing the missed opportunity to take a step on the Bathurst podium finding themselves finishing 7th (Brady) and 11th (Brodie) respectively.

With only 2 rounds remaining in the inaugural 2022 Logitech G pro Invitational Series which driver will conquer their rival? Will Brodie strike back with race winning form? Or will Brady show his grit and determination to come out on top? Tune in on the 16th of November for the penultimate round of the championship to see Brady Meyers and Brodie Kostecki resume their battle!

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Bathurst Spotters Guide

Get to know all the cars in this weekends Bathurst 1000 as well as their power rankings coming into the biggest event of the season!

  • 04

    Verdict: 18.5/30

    Luke Mitchinson & Tyler Blackburn

    Team: RaceOnOz
    Strength: This team can put all of their focus on one car all race, one of only a few single car teams.
    Weakness: A bit of inexperience in the driver line-up, will need some things to fall their way.
    Speed: 5.5/10
    Experience: 6/10
    Safety: 7/10
    The Race On Oz car will be looking to survive until the end and use the safety cars to work their way up the field, unlikely to feature in the top 10 for the bulk of the race, the #04 could very well find itself in a top 10 position by the end. The team is experienced, and the drivers will have a lot of knowledge in their bunker looking at how to use strategy to jump positions. A top 15 result at the end will be a great result.

  • 8

    Verdict: 24/30

    JAKE BURTON & JORDAN SIBBERAS

    Team: Privateer
    Strength: Jake Burton is a take no nonsense, take no prisoners driver. He will make his mark.
    Weakness: Sibberas struggled at Sandown, he may struggle more at the mountain.
    Speed: 8/10
    Experience: 9/10
    Safety: 7/10
    Were sure Jake and Jordan have put a lot of preparation into Bathurst, as this rating does not reflect the speed and ability of car #8. We expect this car to feature heavily. The issue they will need to manage is when to put Jordan in the car as he got his ears boxed at Sandown and handed the car back to Jake in a position they were unable to fight back from. If the car gets handed back to Jake clean and with some sort of track position, expect to see this car make its mark.

  • 18

    Verdict: 20.5/30

    Leigh ellis & joe mugford

    Team: TTR
    Strength: Experience and part of a team that knows how to do these races. Will have a great setup.
    Weakness: Mugford hasn’t been around for a while and may not have his eye in yet. Ellis has had some hardware drama this season.
    Speed: 6/10
    Experience: 8/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    Leigh has being around since day one, and has done a lot of racing in that time. Joe has stepped away for a while and when you get back into these cars, in this competition with a bunch of hardheads, it can be like a hornets nest. But if any team has the experience to deal with that, it’s this team. We know the car will be sorted. The #18 wont display the speed of the other TTR cars, but we expect it to be there at the end fighting for a top 10 or top 15 position.

  • 21

    Verdict: 25/30

    MARCELLO RIVERA & ROBERT GIBBS

    Team: Evolution Racing Team
    Strength: Speed, this car has speed!
    Weakness: Luck! This car has no luck! Pitstop dramas.
    Speed: 9/10
    Experience: 8.5/10
    Safety: 7.5/10
    Watch for this car, it will be fast. It is an A-B driver combo, but Gibbs is fast and in form. Marcelo is mega fast, has been all year. ERT have had a bunch of pitstop issues this year, if they can go all day without having pitstop issues, this car will be in the mix for a top 10, top 5 and maybe even a podium if things go their way. This is a genuine dark horse.

  • 22

    Verdict: 28/10

    BRADY MEYERS & EMILY JONES

    Team: TTR
    Strength: Speed, experience and TTR behind this entry. Brady is amazing at the mountain.
    Weakness: May be too aggressive too early, need to keep the car straight.
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 10/10
    Safety: 8.5/10
    This car is a genuine contender to win the race. Emily is a proven co-driver and will do her job professionally. She is as fast as a lot of the main drivers so they will have flexibility with safety cars if they fall at a bad time for them. Brady will jump in the car and drive the wheels off it all the way home. He will not leave on Sunday night wondering if he could have pushed harder. This is arguably the TTR to watch, but with at least 3 TTR cars in the mix for the win, they will be able to back each other. One of the favourites!

  • 25

    Verdict: 21.5/30

    COBY JONES & JAMIE MCKNIGHT

    Team: SSR/ WPC Racing
    Strength: A mix of youth and experience, the co-driver will keep the car straight.
    Weakness: Speed of McKnight may give Coby a hard position to fight back from.
    Speed: 6.5/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 8/10
    Coby Jones is a hard charger, but has suffered from crashes in this years championship. McKnight is a very safe pair of hands and will hand the car back straight. Coby will do the bulk of the race as this is an A-B combo. This is genuinely a car that has top 5 pace if the safety cars and strategy fall into place for the #25.

  • 28

    Verdict: 27.5/30

    RICHARD HAMSTEAD & ross rizzo

    Team: TTR
    Strength: A balance or experience, strategy, know-how and speed. This is a genuine contender.
    Weakness: A-B Combo may give Hamstead too much ground to make up.
    Speed: 8/10
    Experience: 10/10 (R.Hamstead 2 x SCOPS B1000 Winner, R.Rizzo 1 x SCOPS B1000 Winner)
    Safety: 9.5/10
    Hamstead is an immovable object once he gets in front, and a pest when he is behind. You will know when it is him in the #28. Rizzo is a safe and consummate professional and will do his job with no fuss. But will he have the ultimate pace to keep this car in contention? If there is one thing we know, Rizzo will read the strategy to keep this car in the game at the end, and if you give ‘Hammer’ a sniff late in the race, he will make it happen.

  • 36

    Verdict: 28/30

    JOSH ANDERSON & JOSH Muggleton

    Team: TTR/ Cooldrive Racing
    Strength: This is an A-A Driver combo, flexibility and speed, won’t get involved in drama.
    Weakness: Some unforced errors this year may cause concern
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 9.5/10 (J.Anderson 1 x SCOPS B1000 Winner)
    Safety: 9/10
    This is one of the most experienced and well credentialed line ups in the field. Muggleton will apply himself well and be as fast as any main drivers, whilst Anderson is a frontrunner. This team wont get involved in scrapping early in the race and will focus on the business end. With a double A pairing, they have flexibility in strategy which may just be their winning ticket!

  • 47

    Verdict: 21.5/30

    kurt stenberg & AARON BORG

    Team: TTR
    Strength: Experience, and speed on its day, part of TTR, car will be well prepared.
    Weakness: Co driver is not driving these cars all the time, may suffer at Bathurst.
    Speed: 7/10
    Experience: 8/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    The #47 is hot and cold. On its day, Kurt can mix it with the best out there, but on other days he can be buried in the pack. If Kurt can qualify the car well, and Borg can maintain a reasonable track position, this car can make an impact. Aaron Borg will be the question mark though as he is not a current driver of this car, but he has experience and a history of getting the job done. We suspect Borg will be up to pace for the race and that will serve this cars chances well. Kurt will do the bulk of the race. A top 10 is not out of the question.

  • 55

    Verdict: 25.5/30

    luke rosella & HAYDEN VELD

    Team: SSR/ WPC Racing
    Strength: Fresh off a confidence building podium at Sandown, youthful exuberance.
    Weakness: Co driver change for the #55 could throw a spanner in the works.
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 8/10
    Safety: 8/10
    Luke Rosella is a driver on the rise. Energetic and hardworking, Luke has taken that next step and paired with Veld, a super quick up and comer, they will definitely feature near the front. They will have to pick their battles and ensure they are there at the end. This car is a real shot at this race, make no mistake.

  • 56

    Verdict: 20.5/30

    RAYNER COSTELLO & BAILEY FRIDD

    Team: Evolution Racing Team
    Strength: Great team working the strategy, a solid driving combo well matched.
    Weakness: Have missed a few rounds and has hindered progress. ERT had pit stop issues.
    Speed: 7/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    Another team that will slip under the radar. Costello is a rising star but has been hampered by inconsistency all season. Fridd is a no hassle professional and will do whatever he is called on to do during the race. This will be an A-A pairing, so strategy should work in their favour. They won’t display the front running pace of some of their team cars and may be called on to support as we know ERT do, but they are a top 10 car in their own right.

  • 58

    Verdict: 22.5/30

    JACK boyd & glen postlethwaite

    Team: SSR/ WPC Racing
    Strength: Jack is a Bathurst specialist, and in endurance races finds good long stint pace.
    Weakness: Their qual speed may relegate them to having to fight their way through the pack, increasing their chance of race ending damage.
    Speed: 7.5/10
    Experience: 7.5/10
    Safety: 7.5/10
    Pozzie is a well credentialed and experienced, and Boyd comes into his own in longer races, if this pair has a strong race, don’t be surprised to see them feature deep inside the top 10. They have flexibility with strategy as both drivers are similar pace, so they may be in a position to benefit from a safety car that falls at an akward time.

  • 63

    Verdict: 21.5/30

    BLAKE WORBOYS & kristian smart

    Team: WK & P
    Strength: Single car entry, all focus on the #63. No fuss line-up.
    Weakness: Won’t have the speed needed to fight at the front.
    Speed: 6.5/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 8/10
    Worboys has improved all season and is establishing himself as a quality and trusted driver to race against. Kristian is experienced and will get the job done for Blake to do the bulk of the race. Likewise with other single car teams, the whole team will be focussed on this car, and these guys will have circled at top 10-12 as their target, and that’s totally achievable for this car.

  • 66

    Verdict: 19/30

    adam hayne & dave kirby

    Team: Send It Sim Sports
    Strength: Great under the radar combo in good recent form.
    Weakness: Speed won’t be of the front runners, will have to fight in the pack.
    Speed: 6/10
    Experience: 6/10
    Safety: 7/10
    This pairing of Adam Hayne and Kirby has been in great form recently. They have both stepped up, along with the team. Send It Sim Sports have great straight line speed and this will be beneficial at Bathurst for this duo. It’s pretty even so there should be strategy flexibility which will work in their favour. This is a car that we think will surprise some people and pop up out of the shadows at the end if they can keep clear of the drama.

  • 72

    Verdict: 20/30

    Benjamin Smith & Ben Rothberg

    Team: Evolution Racing Team
    Strength: Solid pairing, good understanding of what they need to do.
    Weakness: Will have to run the bulk of the race in the pack.
    Speed: 6.5/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    The #72 will start the race with the intention of keeping their nose out of battles they don’t need to be in. A good balance of experience and know how in ERT will mean they know exactly what they need to do in the race to be there at the end. They won’t be pushing low percentage moves, and they should arrive at lap 100 with a clean car ready for the run home. Smith will do the bulk of the race, but Rothberg is still fast and capable as a co-driver.

  • 76

    Verdict: 20.5/30

    greg favelle & Rehan Liyange

    Team: Taipan ESports
    Strength: Single car entry, single focus. Good speed, Rehan is a star of the future.
    Weakness: Won’t want to get caught in pointless early race battles.
    Speed: 6.5/10
    Experience: 6.5/10
    Safety: 7.5/10
    The oldest full time driver and youngest driver in the series. At Sandown, this duo did a fantastic job with Rehan showing maturity beyond his years to race smart against well credentialed opposition. Greg has shown speed on occasions, so it will be interesting to see who does the lions share of the driving. But we suspect it may be a pretty even spread across the two drivers as this unusual combo are similar on pace. This gives them flexibility, watch for this car as we don’t know what to make of it, but we suspect it may spring s surprise.

  • 77

    Verdict: 28/10

    madison down & Corey Shepherd

    Team: TTR/ VRS Racing
    Strength: Any team with Madison Down in it has a shot at the win, this car will be ready to fight.
    Weakness: Hard to find a weakness here, but may feel the pressure of leading TTR.
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 10/10 (M.Down 2 x SCOPS B1000 Winner)
    Safety: 9.5/10
    Madison Down needs no introduction, make no mistake, this car WILL fight to win, it has every chance at winning. With the A – A combo, Madison will be hoping Shepherd can keep the car in the fight whilst he completes his laps so that Madison’s fight for the win is that much easier, and Shepherd is as fast as anyone so that boxed is ticked for this car. No matter where the car is when Mads jumps in, expect to see the #77 in a fight to the death!

  • 080

    Verdict: 18/30

    Jamie dike & blake delaney

    Team: Fishy Motorsports
    Strength: Single car entry, experience in the pit bunker and some crafty masterminds in the team.
    Weakness: This car may suffer from outright pace, it has struggled with speed for 2022. Dike has suffered hardware malfunction this year.
    Speed: 5/10
    Experience: 6.5/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    The Fishy team has many minds behind the scenes with a good grasp on strategy and how to use what comes their way to their advantage. This car probably won’t feature at the top of the time sheets and realistically, a top 15 finish will be a good day. Keeping it clean and utilising their strengths will come in handy for the Dike/Delaney combo. Staying out of battles and bringing it home will be their goal.

  • 84

    Verdict: 21/30

    Sebastian Flock & Scott Gamble

    Team: Evolution Racing Team
    Strength: Under the radar, fast and consistent, no one will be expecting them.
    Weakness: Been involved in a lot of skirmishes this season, will be looking to stay clear of drama.
    Speed: 6.5/10
    Experience: 7.5/10
    Safety: 7/10
    Flock and Gamble are very well matched, and in form drivers. They won’t have the pace of the top guys or their more established team mates, but this is a seriously under rated driver combo. Gamble has been on the up and up for a while now, whilst Flock has also started to kick goals. This is a genuine top 10 car at the end of the day, whilst they will run in the pack for the majority. They will keep it clean and focus on the part of the race that matters.

  • 88

    Verdict: 25.5/30

    brenton hobson & damien johnstone

    Team: SSR/ Smith & Sons Racing
    Strength: Hobbo circles Bathurst in his calendar and always performs well at the mountain.
    Weakness: Car 88 will be fast, but it might not have the outright pace for the leaders.
    Speed: 8.5/10
    Experience: 8.5/10
    Safety: 8.5/10
    Hobbo88 as he is known throughout the iRacing community is a Bathurst die hard! Paired with a strong and consistent Damien Johnstone, this pairing will tick off the laps and not get involved in pointless battles so that they can fire a shot at the end. Expect to see the #88 emerge out of the shadows when it matters late in the race, a podium will be their aim. If it becomes a fuel economy race, look out!

  • 89

    Verdict: 28/30

    wayne bourke & james scott

    Team: SSR/ Smith & Sons racing
    Strength: Second to none in preparation and readiness, strong strategy and strong pace.
    Weakness: Aggressive and bold moves in the pack may hinder their progress
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 10/10 (J.Scott 1 x SCOPS B1000 Winner)
    Safety: 9.5/10
    This is another genuine contender for the race win. Part of the SSR juggernaut, this car will be prepared and ready for the big race. Both drivers and fearless and mega fast, this is another rare A+ - A+ driver combo and will have strategy flexibility. This car is a genuine shot at the win, this car will feature all race long. Watch the #89.

  • 93

    Verdict: 22.5/30

    griffin gardiner & damon woods

    Team: Privateer
    Strength: Strong driver line-up, single focus. Don’t have to help any team mates.
    Weakness: Will battle in the top 10-15, but on their own.
    Speed: 8/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 7.5/10
    Gardiner was the pillar of consistency early in the season, but that has come undone recently. Bathurst will be the race he circled to get things back on track. Capable of podiums and regular top 10 results, this car will run in the 15 for the majority of the race. Woods will get the job done, and he will do it with speed. This is another dark horse. If it becomes a battle between the big teams late in the day and the top blows off, this car could be in a position to capitalise.

  • 94

    Verdict: 30/30

    jarrad filsell & dayne warren

    Team: SSR/Boost Mobile Racing
    Strength: This driver pairing is eye watering fast.
    Weakness: Having a target on their back by being short priced favourites. Complacency.
    Speed: 10/10
    Experience: 10/10 (J.Filsell 3 x SCOPS B1000 winner, D.Warren 1 x SCOPS B1000 winner)
    Safety: 10/10
    This combination is undoubtedly the car to beat. They will be looking to blow the competition away with pure speed and everyone knows it! Frankly, if the race goes smoothly for car 94, they look almost unbeatable. BUT, this is Bathurst, and things do go wrong!

  • 96

    Verdict: 21/30

    bRAD Ryan & Dan Hall

    Team: Evolution Racing Team
    Strength: Fast and experienced, great team behind them with knowledge.
    Weakness: Brad has been the most unlucky guy this season.
    Speed: 7/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 7/10
    Brad has walked under 10 ladders or something this season. Hindered by some questionable Race Control calls and been involved in other peoples crashes. But he remains fast and Bathurst is the place where he can take something away from the season. This is an A-B Combo, but Dan Hall is very capable and won’t do any high risk moves. This is a good car, solid team and won’t be beaten easily.

  • 096

    Verdict: 18.5/30

    hayden harrison & Christopher Ireland

    Team: Send It Sim Sports
    Strength: Under the radar, solid speed, good team behind them. Four cars running so can have help if needed.
    Weakness: Poor qualifying and having to race in the pack increases chances of drama.
    Speed: 6/10
    Experience: 6.5/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    Harrison is a man on the rise. He has had some impressive runs in 2022, but will be looking forward to the endurance races so he can show what he can do. Harrison was away for Sandown, and Ireland had some early contact which is the exact opposite of what you want at the start of a long race. So if they can find their own spot on the track, a top 20 is easily achievable.

  • 97

    Verdict: 27/30

    SHANE VAN GISBERGEN & BRAD NEWMAN

    Team: Binfield Racing by Brookvale
    Strength: SVG, SVG, SVG! Need we say more?
    Weakness: A-B Combo, Brad is fast and capable, but SVG is the clear leader.
    Speed: 9/10
    Experience: 10/10
    Safety: 8/10
    Simply, this car will run a simple strategy. Brad will do the start, SVG will hop in and do what he does. The two time Bathurst 1000 winner will be looking to dominate all forms of the Mountain in 2022. Dark Horse or one of the favourites?

  • 99

    Verdict: 28/30

    Brodie Kostecki & cooper murray

    Team: SSR/Boost Mobile Racing
    Strength: Huge amount of real life experience and know how, very smart and cunning operators.
    Weakness: Strategy has caught car 99 out on some occasions in 2022.
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 10/10
    Safety: 8.5/10
    The 99 SSR/Boost Mobile car is definitely a real challenger for the race win. Cooper is very fast, but probably not quite at the pace of Brodie, if they are there at the end, they will try to win the race no matter who they are battling. There has been some hardware problems for Brodie in 2022, let’s hope that doesn’t hinder their Bathurst campaign.

  • 143

    Verdict: 25.5/30

    jordan ross & adam briggs

    Team: SSR/ WPC Racing
    Strength: Very capable driver line-up that will get the job done.
    Weakness: Won’t display the outright pace of the front runners.
    Speed: 8.5/10
    Experience: 8.5/10 (J.Ross 1 x SCOPS B1000 Winner)
    Safety: 8.5/10
    Car 143 has an experienced driver combo capable of a podium if things fall theoir way. They wont have the ultimate pace of the very front running cars, but look to see this car run in or around the top 10 hassle free for the bulk of the race, and as we know, anything can happen at the end!

  • 151

    Verdict: 19.5/30

    josh thomas & RILEY BILSON

    Team: Send It Sim Sports
    Strength: No expectations, Solid and capable pairing, good straight line speed.
    Weakness: Too inconsistent and hasn’t really fired a shot in this years title so far.
    Speed: 6.5/10
    Experience: 6.5/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    Not many people will have circled the #151 in their predictions for a great result, but this combo is very capable of getting it done. Thomas has missed a few rounds this season which has hurt his progress, but a good Bathurst result will turn it all around. Bilson is a fast and experienced campaigner who will have no problems matching the pace of Josh, so they won’t need to worry about who is in the car which is a good option to have. Look to see this car feature in the top 15, a top 10 is achievable.

  • 177

    Verdict: 26/30

    ETHAN GRIGG-Gault & bradley vaughan

    Team: Evolution Racing Team
    Strength: EGG is relentless, no matter when he gets in the car, he will push it to the front.
    Weakness: This season has seen too many mistakes taking the 177 out of contention.
    Speed: 9/10
    Experience: 9/10
    Safety: 8/10
    Ethan is like a dog with a bone at the mountain. He won’t give up and he will charge every second he is behind the wheel. Vaughan will do his job, were sure he knows he needs to hand the car over to Ethan with good track position and straight panels, but if the safety cars fall at the wrong time, it won’t hurt to leave Vaughan in the car. EGG has recently returned to form and will be looking to secure a podium, if not the win this weekend.

  • 201

    Verdict: 26/30

    andrew gilliam & jobe stewart

    Team: Pursuit Sim Racing
    Strength: The team is well versed in these races, fast and a genuine contender. A lot of know how in this team.
    Weakness: Being a single car team going up against a pack of rival team cars will make it hard.
    Speed: 9.5/10
    Experience: 8.5/10
    Safety: 8/10
    This car will be a contender for pole position and it will run strongly in the race. This team can focus on a single entry. Stewart has been in great form and will be a strong co-driver. At times, Gilliam has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with some unforced errors. If they can have a clean race, this car WILL contend for outright line honours. Its overall rating doesn’t reflect how fast this car will be.

  • 208

    Verdict: 20.5/30

    chris coxhead & henry king

    Team: Team Jinx Shifters HJR
    Strength: Experience, Experience, Experience! Strategy masterminds.
    Weakness: Speed. King will need to get up on the wheel at the Mountain.
    Speed: 5/10
    Experience: 9/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    Coxhead is a solid and fast driver. Make no mistake, he is very capable and will take his opportunities. King is very experienced and a strategy genius, but his speed is off where it needs to be to keep the #208 in contention. King will play it safe, and hand back a clean car, but will Coxhead have to dig out from deep in the pack. However, if they can use strategy to get their track position back, Coxhead will have a red hot go.

  • 209

    Verdict: 22/30

    Brett loxton & thomas hinss

    Team: Team Jinx Shifters HJR
    Strength: Good experience, even on pace, aggressive to make their way through the pack.
    Weakness: Aggressive in the pack may make or break them.
    Speed: 7/10
    Experience: 8/10
    Safety: 7/10
    Loxton is a name that will forever pop up amongst the better drivers of the Supercar. This season hasn’t gone to plan, but Bathurst is the time to remind everyone what he can do. He is capable of racing right at the very front, so a top 10 result will be what these guys are expecting, and they will be pushing for a top 5. Speed of late for the HJR cars hasn’t been great, but Bathurst is its own beast. Hinss is aggressive in the pack, which can go for or against you. If Hinss can pick his moves, they should be in the mix. Even on pace so they will have flexibility. Watch this car.

  • 707

    Verdict: 23/30

    tom freer & jamie stovold

    Team: SSR/ WPC Racing
    Strength: One of the very best fuel savers in the business, crafty strategy.
    Weakness: May not have the aggressive moves to make positions at the end
    Speed: 7.5/10
    Experience: 7.5/10
    Safety: 8/10
    The 707 is another A – B combo with a clear main driver. Stovold is someone that will hand back a clean car with not a scratch on it with no fuss, and Tom is second to none when it comes to fuel saving. If it is a fuel tight race, this car will pop up at the end in a good position. Tom is also capable on pace of running deep inside the top 10, so don’t be surprised to see this car in the battle at the end.

  • 888

    Verdict: 24.5/30

    Ric Kutnetsov & Brian Borg

    Team: Premier Racing Team
    Strength: Good balanced driver line-up, experience and strategy experts.
    Weakness: Single car entry may have to fight multi car teams.
    Speed: 8/10
    Experience: 8/10
    Safety: 8.5/10
    Premier Racing Team always turns up at the mountain well prepared. Kuznetsov is a young gun on the rise, and he will be pushing the top teams in terms of lap times. Borg knows his job and will be looking to maintain track position from a healthy qualifying result so that he can give the car back to his young charger. Expect to see Borg start the race with his experience, and Ric to bring it home. This is a genuine dark horse for a podium result.

  • 951

    Verdict: 22/30

    Shawn McNamara & hayden sell

    Team: 9ine 5ive Simsports
    Strength: Youth and experience. Fast and fast.
    Weakness: Co-driver maybe a little too on edge at times, will be looking to tame it down for the race.
    Speed: 8/10
    Experience: 7/10
    Safety: 7/10
    It will be really interesting to see how this car goes. Sell is fast and has been putting in the laps, preparation has been strong. McNamara likewise, safe, fast and capable of running in the top 10 on his own. We think this car is somewhat of a dark horse, maybe not for the win, but a top 5 is possible. The car will run inside the top 15 for the bulk of the day.

  • 990

    Verdict: 24.5/30

    Dylan Rudd & gianni lutzu

    Team: 9ine 5ive SimSport
    Strength: Rudd is fast, and has taken the next leap forward.
    Weakness: A-B Driver combo may limit strategy options.
    Speed: 8/10
    Experience: 8/10
    Safety: 8.5/10
    Rudd is a guy that has improved out of sight throughout this season. He has been the best of the rest against the big juggernaut teams and has held his own. Rudd races smart and knows that to win, you must first finish. Lutzu is improving every race in the v8, but he may lack a bit of pace against the field on Sunday. If Lutzu can keep to his own and retain some track position, don’t be surprised to see this car on the podium. We think this car is a top 8 car for sure, keep an eye on the #990.

  • 994

    Verdict: 18/30

    MATTY JONES & BRADY BALDWIN

    Team: Send It Sim Sports
    Strength: Under the radar, solid speed, good team behind them.
    Weakness: Won’t have the outright speed, may need to stay out of battles.
    Speed: 5.5/10
    Experience: 6.5/10
    Safety: 6.5/10
    One of four cars in the Send It Sim Sports stable, Baldwin has impressed on occasions in recent times. This pairing will be looking to have Baldwin in the car for the majority of the race and have the co-driver out as soon as practical. They have good tyre life and good straight line speed, so a top 20 will be a good result, but capable of more. They are close on pace so they will have safety car options.

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Rising Star Luke Rosella Delivers alongside evergreen Fawzan El-Nabi

The 7th round of the Logitech G Pro Invitational Series took center stage last Saturday at Sandown raceway for the first endurance race on the 2022 calendar. 

While SSR Boost Mobile’s Jarrad Filsell & Dayne Warren took the winning honours there was other performances that stood out, including the second place effort of Luke Rosella and Fawzan El-Nabi. 

For El-Nabi, This result sees a true return to form after a break from Sim Racing in the recent past. This being his first foray into the series, a podium on debut is nothing to shy away from. As previous SCOPS Bathurst 1000 winner alongside TTR’s Ross Rizzo in 2018, he sure will be ready to fire when we roll into Bathurst in little under 2 weeks time. 

"...there was other performances that stood out, including the second place effort of Luke Rosella and Fawzan El-Nabi"

For Luke Rosella, a tough start to his 2022 campaign has only proven to make him stronger as the season has progressed. A season that started with results including a 30th placing in round 2 at Winton, Luke has found some impressive form in more recent times.

His podium effort not only cements him as a force in the Logitech G pro invitational series, but it solidifies a wonderful bounce back in the championship, moving him well into contention in 6th place on 1059 points, a mere 23 points behind TTR’s Madison down in 5th. 

Will this Pairing be the benchmark at Bathurst? Can they deliver an endurance cup victory in 2022? Tune in to all the live coverage on the 22/23 of October to find out! 

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Recap: SSR fire in Enduro Cup Opener

With our European leg of the series now complete after the Most recent round at Hockenheim, attention has turned to home soil and most importantly, the endurance cup.

Sandown played host for round 7 of the Logitech G pro Invitational Series with the opening round of the endurance cup sure delivering action up and down the field.

161 laps around the physically demanding Victorian based circuit proved tough on all driver pairings. With some withstanding what was thrown at them better than others.

The 20 minute qualifying session proved highly contested yet again. SSR & TTR traded blows in qualifying, locking out the top eight positions with Andrew Gilliam/Jobe Stewart being the first non TTR/SSR cars, placing their Pursuit Commodore in 9th.

SSR/Boost mobile racing’s Jarrad Filsell/Dayne Warren took pole position starting alongside TTR’s pairing of Ethan Warren/ Michael Healy on the front row.
Brodie Kostecki/ Cooper Murray placed their SSR/ Boost Mobile machine in third, followed by TTR’s Madison Down in fourth, electing to start his co-driver Aaron Borg. The top five was rounded out by Brady Meyers/ Emily Jones in the #22 TTR entry.

Qualifying definitely wasn’t short of controversy, with many cars being warned for impeding, also noted was a major qualifying crash between Henry James Racing driver Chris Coxhead and SSR’s Jordan Ross. Ross being forced to tow meaning he was excluded from qualifying & forced to start from the back row.

Jarrad filsell elected to start the #94, finding a clean getaway taking control of the field into turn one closely followed by Ethan Warren. A blinding start from Fawzan El- Nabi saw the driver of the #55 momentarily slot into third, before running wide and rejoining behind stablemate Brodie Kostecki in fourth.

Further down the field drama began from the outset, with Griffin Gardiner’s Co-Driver Damon Woods finding the rear of Glen Postlethwaite’s #58 Commodore on the entry of turn one, sparking one of the biggest lap one accidents we’ve seen this season. Caught in the mess was TTR’s Ross Rizzo who Through no fault of his own found himself facing the wrong direction on the exit of turn one, only to be collected by his TTR teammate Kurt Stenberg. Ultimately the damage sustained for Ross on the opening lap may of contributed to their engine expiring whilst Richard was at the wheel on lap 34. This untimely engine failure only worsened what has already been a difficult season for Hamstead who firmly sits outside the top ten in the championship as a result.

Jake Burton along with teammate Jordan Sibberas found themselves in the action early also, Jordan being rotated into the wall on the exit of turn 5 by Bradley Vaughn, resulting in a penalty for Vaughn. This put an end to the day of Burton/Sibberas early, circulating for the remainder of the race finishing in 29th.

As the green flag running continued, there were a number of drivers making their way thought the field. One of which was the pairing of Marcello Rivera and Robert Gibbs. An impressive first stint from Gibbs set up a strong day for the #21 Evolution Racing team machine, moving up a stunning ten positions in the opening stages of the race. Their form would continue throughout the day with Marcello wheeling the Car home inside the top ten from twenty fourth on the grid. A impressive sign of what’s to come for the remaining round of the endurance cup.

The race remained relatively quiet throughout the middle stages with the Filsell/Warren pairing proving to be relatively unmatched throughout the day. The co drivers mainly took centre stage in this phase of the race, many impressing throughout their stints.

The likes of Josh Muggleton, Jobe Stewart & Cooper Murray were the benchmark in their respective co-driver stints, consistently lapping within a fraction of their lead drivers laptimes. Other notable performances included the likes of V8 newcomer Gianni Lutzu, showing he can mix it with some highly credited drivers during his stints.

As the lack of safety cars became evident, drivers settled into their rhythms and continued to tick off the laps. The final Pit stop window opened on lap 117, seeing a number of cars dive to the lane to complete the final pit stop.

Emily Jones was the first of the front runners to complete the final pit stop, handing the car over to Brady Meyers in a respectable 5th position for the run to the flag. Corey Shepherd was next to follow on lap 121, trailed closely by Brodie Kostecki on lap 126, interestingly handing his car back over to Cooper Murray to complete the remaining laps.

Dayne Warren lead the field home for a commanding victory alongside Jarrad Filsell, taking the checkered flag in just over 3 hours. The remaining podium places belonged to Rosella & El-Nabi in second along with Kostecki & Murray in third making it an all SSR podium.

Pursuit Sim Racing had a impressive race coming home 4th, followed closely behind by TTR’s Jake Maloney rounding out the top 5.

With Sandown now complete, we turn out attention to Bathurst. 161 of the most important laps of the year. With what we’ve seen so far in the 2022 endurance cup, Bathurst sure will deliver.

Who will deliver on Australia’s greatest stage? Who will be crowned Bathurst champions? Will it be the combination of Dayne Warren & Jarrad Filsell? Or Will Madison Down return to form and deliver a victory alongside Aaron Borg? Can Pursuit sim racing stand up and deliver like they’ve shown in recent rounds? Or will we see a dark horse deliver a Bathurst upset?

Tune in on the 22/23 of October to see who will etch their name In Bathurst folklore.

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