Race 1:
The night kicked off a bit rocky with technical issues. Some of them bad enough, Darrel Hamilton had to drop from the night from insufferable frame rates. Hopefully we can clean that up for the finale at Yas Marina. When we did get going, it was Gurton Buster on the pole with a lightning fast performance.
Newcomer, Gut Slab made some strong first impressions as he helped Dahlgren through turn three. The contact wasn't unjustified and there was quite a lot of action coming out of the chicane ahead of the group.
Zack Webster tried to slip around the inside and avoid some of the mess when he got clipped first by Robert Dahlgren...
And then again by Moffat. But he managed to stay the course and press on.
Sandy Smith was having a bad birthday as he lost it off of the final corner onto the straight.
Slab was having a fairly decent run up the order when he bumped Coulthard. The impact was mild but it slowed him enough for Todd Kelly to rap the back of his right around. Not surprising coming from a Kelly.
I also had troubles early as I caught more curb than normal and slid the tires to the rims.
This gave me zero stopping power on the long stretch despite slowing down very early and my car was ruined. The crew fixed it up for a few laps where it would ultimately die.
The Bear was finding his presents on pit road: lots of ice cream. I assume lots because he kept going back in there a lot. It may have also been because his crew couldn't change half his tires...
He continued to struggle with the final corner line and slid out right in front of the leader, Buster. It was a close one.
Many of the laps were fairly quiet but around halfway, it started to heat up again. Here, Lowndes dumped Mostert in an identical move to Mallala that killed my win.
In this case, Chaz only just missed Dalhgren and smashed harmfully into the tire barrier.
It wouldn't be but a lap latter that Lowndes was in it again. In this case, it was van Gisbergen collecting Nick Percat and the two went right off of Craig's bumper.
Shane went around but Nick was off in the grass and had a terrible approach to the hairpin.
And Webster was blindsided. In this case, they both were slowed enough that it wasn't crippling but the damage didn't help and both lost several spots.
A couple laps after, Gut Slab was continuing his steady march when this seemingly innocuous contact blistered Bright's left side.
Gurton Buster was continued to dominate the field but not without several more close calls. This time he gave Sandy plenty of space through turn one, almost touching the grass.
And not long after that, there was this unusual sideways contact with James Moffat that came very close to turning very bad. Fortunately, he barely held on and took another victory.
Despite Gut Slab's many gains and very decent first run, an early incident may have cooked his tires too much to properly approach the chicane and he lost it into the tires. Dead.
Meanwhile, Webster was continuing to push to the front with aggressive tactics. Officials didn't listen to Scotty Pye's protests and ruled it racing contact.
With half a lap left, he was snatching every spot he could.
Slipping past Tander and Perkins, his momentum took him right along into Dahlgren (that guy's gotten more coverage this review than any other race I can remember).
While he wasn't fighting him for position and seemed to have 4th place secured, Webster inexplicably moved to the outside and the two bounced off each other.
Whether he thought he was clear or didn't think he was over that far, the damage was done and he spun losing his two hard earned spots. Still, a good finish for the first run of the night.
Race 2:
The second start was more or less the same but without quite as much drama.
Gut Slab attacked Rick Kelly early, presumably thinking it was Todd and having a little return of favor from Race 1. Or it was just congested and they got together.
This did cause some congestion as Reynolds went into the grass reacting and that put him in a tough spot coming into the essess where he collided with Jack Perkins.
Down at the hairpin, Gut Slab had closed back in on the pack where he got David Wall in the braking zone and sent him careening into Slade. About the same time, Dalhgren got Slab and turned him into the grass.
The excitement died down for several laps before Scott Pye lost an engine. While coasting around the track, Todd Kelly slammed him hard, not doing either of them any favors.
His brother Rick decided he didn't like Gut Slab's driving and ran him off at the hairpin.
About a third of the way in and Webster had secured a podium position after a hard fight through the field.
Slab was trying his best to make up for the previous transgressions when he just barely nicked Caruso's bumper coming off of the bump in seven.
He then got a phone call and had to park it. At least he pulled off. A model citizen to those who would rather text and drive. Or talk and drive in this case. Sadly, his good deeds would not serve him well enough as he'd lose his engine to overheating at the halfway mark.
A little bit before that point, I had another anomaly similar to race 1. In this case, I was thrown clear to the inside of the track, right into the wall. The damage seemed minor at the time but slowed me down plenty. Buster faded into the distance.
That same damage may or may not have had anything to do with this.
Pit stops were taking place and while Zack wasn't in need of one, Mostert certainly thought he was.
It was very kind of him to send Webster right where he needed to be. Why yes, I'd like four fresh tires, please. And an ice cold Coca-Cola.
The Kelly brothers were still at it and this time ran The Bear afoul after he'd been performing very well.
Coming to the closing laps, Zack had just worked his way back into the podium spot when I caught up to him.
While I had plenty of pace on him in the start of the race, the damage made things very competitive. It got dicey around Sandy.
And while we weren't racing for position, we were taking risks as though we were.
It almost worked out to be a drag race to the end but Zack pushed a tad too much out of the 180 and just caught it to keep his well deserved podium.
Meanwhile, Gurton Buster pocketed another easy 'W'. However, he may be receiving a massive penalty for victory burnouts while competitors were still active on the track. We'll have to see how the officials respond.
The last track of the series is a whopper and a replacement for New Castle which is being run in the real live VASC series this year. Almost 3.5 miles of city turns around the beautiful recreation of Yas Marina Night. This track has had contributions from none other than Gurton Buster. We'll certainly be critiquing.
Race 1
Track: BAR Pukekohe Park Raceway
Session: Qualifying
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 008 | J Zolecki | 52.727 |
| 2 | 013 | T Nadz | 52.776 |
| 3 | 1 | J Whincup | 53.094 |
| 4 | 061 | D Hamilton | 53.240 |
| 5 | 6 | C Mostert | 53.332 |
| 6 | 5 | M Winterbottom | 53.425 |
| 7 | 97 | S Van Gisbergen | 53.450 |
| 8 | 888 | C Lowndes | 53.556 |
| 9 | 14 | F Coulthard | 53.588 |
| 10 | 9 | W Davison | 53.781 |
| 11 | 8 | J Bright | 53.799 |
| 12 | 21 | D Wood | 53.830 |
| 13 | 18 | J Perkins | 54.165 |
| 14 | 2 | G Tander | 54.187 |
| 15 | 16 | S Pye | 54.242 |
| 16 | 15 | R Kelly | 54.271 |
| 17 | 47 | T Slade | 54.341 |
| 18 | 222 | N Percat | 54.380 |
| 19 | 55 | D Reynolds | 54.407 |
| 20 | 33 | S McLaughlin | 54.488 |
| 21 | 23 | R Ingall | 54.681 |
| 22 | 22 | J Courtney | 54.838 |
| 23 | 4 | L Holdsworth | 54.876 |
| 24 | 7 | T Kelly | 55.224 |
| 25 | 34 | R Dahlgren | 55.342 |
| 26 | 17 | D Wall | 55.410 |
| 27 | 055 | G Slab | 55.665 |
| 28 | 360 | J Moffat | 55.872 |
| 29 | 36 | M Caruso | 55.948 |
| 30 | 023 | Z Webster | -- |
| 31 | 021 | T Bear | -- |
Weather: Clear, 73 °F, South 1 mph
Session: Happy Hour
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 008 | J Zolecki | 51.595 |
| 2 | 013 | T Nadz | 52.612 |
| 3 | 023 | Z Webster | 53.721 |
| 4 | 14 | F Coulthard | 53.933 |
| 5 | 5 | M Winterbottom | 54.151 |
| 6 | 9 | W Davison | 54.228 |
| 7 | 1 | J Whincup | 54.236 |
| 8 | 97 | S Van Gisbergen | 54.403 |
| 9 | 888 | C Lowndes | 54.429 |
| 10 | 21 | D Wood | 54.585 |
| 11 | 6 | C Mostert | 54.645 |
| 12 | 33 | S McLaughlin | 54.677 |
| 13 | 8 | J Bright | 54.832 |
| 14 | 55 | D Reynolds | 54.855 |
| 15 | 18 | J Perkins | 54.891 |
| 16 | 16 | S Pye | 54.974 |
| 17 | 4 | L Holdsworth | 55.058 |
| 18 | 2 | G Tander | 55.194 |
| 19 | 360 | J Moffat | 55.216 |
| 20 | 222 | N Percat | 55.294 |
| 21 | 15 | R Kelly | 55.351 |
| 22 | 47 | T Slade | 55.367 |
| 23 | 7 | T Kelly | 55.543 |
| 24 | 23 | R Ingall | 55.544 |
| 25 | 22 | J Courtney | 55.626 |
| 26 | 17 | D Wall | 56.000 |
| 27 | 34 | R Dahlgren | 56.150 |
| 28 | 36 | M Caruso | 56.303 |
| 29 | 021 | T Bear | 1:33.761 |
Weather: Clear, 80 °F, Southwest 11 mph
Session: Race
OFFICIAL STANDINGS
| F | S | # | DRIVER | INTERVAL | LAPS | LED | POINTS | STATUS |
| 1 | 1 | 008 | J Zolecki | 125.106 | 30 | 30* | 185 | Running |
| 2 | 6 | 5 | M Winterbottom | -1L | 29 | 0 | 170 | Running |
| 3 | 10 | 9 | W Davison | -1L | 29 | 0 | 165 | Running |
| 4 | 13 | 18 | J Perkins | -1L | 29 | 0 | 160 | Running |
| 5 | 14 | 2 | G Tander | -1L | 29 | 0 | 155 | Running |
| 6 | 30 | 023 | Z Webster | -1L | 29 | 0 | 150 | Running |
| 7 | 15 | 16 | S Pye | -2L | 28 | 0 | 146 | Running |
| 8 | 19 | 55 | D Reynolds | -2L | 28 | 0 | 142 | Running |
| 9 | 9 | 14 | F Coulthard | -2L | 28 | 0 | 138 | Running |
| 10 | 8 | 888 | C Lowndes | -2L | 28 | 0 | 134 | Running |
| 11 | 12 | 21 | D Wood | -2L | 28 | 0 | 130 | Running |
| 12 | 7 | 97 | S Van Gisbergen | -2L | 28 | 0 | 127 | Running |
| 13 | 23 | 4 | L Holdsworth | -2L | 28 | 0 | 124 | Running |
| 14 | 24 | 7 | T Kelly | -2L | 28 | 0 | 121 | Running |
| 15 | 26 | 17 | D Wall | -2L | 28 | 0 | 118 | Running |
| 16 | 25 | 34 | R Dahlgren | -2L | 28 | 0 | 115 | Running |
| 17 | 11 | 8 | J Bright | -3L | 27 | 0 | 112 | Running |
| 18 | 28 | 360 | J Moffat | -3L | 27 | 0 | 109 | Running |
| 19 | 21 | 23 | R Ingall | -4L | 26 | 0 | 106 | Running |
| 20 | 20 | 33 | S McLaughlin | -5L | 25 | 0 | 103 | Running |
| 21 | 22 | 22 | J Courtney | -5L | 25 | 0 | 100 | Running |
| 22 | 27 | 055 | G Slab | -7L | 23 | 0 | 97 | Accident |
| 23 | 31 | 021 | T Bear | -7L | 23 | 0 | 94 | Running |
| 24 | 17 | 47 | T Slade | -14L | 16 | 0 | 91 | Accident |
| 25 | 5 | 6 | C Mostert | -15L | 15 | 0 | 88 | Accident |
| 26 | 18 | 222 | N Percat | -15L | 15 | 0 | 85 | Retired |
| 27 | 29 | 36 | M Caruso | -16L | 14 | 0 | 82 | Accident |
| 28 | 2 | 013 | T Nadz | -24L | 6 | 0 | 79 | Accident |
| 29 | 16 | 15 | R Kelly | -29L | 1 | 0 | 76 | Retired |
| 30 | 3 | 1 | J Whincup | -30L | 0 | 0 | 73 | Accident |
Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)
Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)
Weather: Clear, 79 °F, Southwest 14 mph
Pitstop Frequency: 3x
AI Strength: 95%
PENALTIES
| LAP | # | INFRACTION | PENALTY |
| 10 | 021 | Speeding in pits | Drive through pit lane |
Race 2
Session: Qualifying
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 008 | J Zolecki | 51.725 |
| 2 | 013 | T Nadz | 52.819 |
| 3 | 6 | C Mostert | 53.518 |
| 4 | 1 | J Whincup | 53.547 |
| 5 | 888 | C Lowndes | 53.590 |
| 6 | 5 | M Winterbottom | 53.637 |
| 7 | 023 | Z Webster | 53.709 |
| 8 | 2 | G Tander | 53.817 |
| 9 | 9 | W Davison | 53.826 |
| 10 | 14 | F Coulthard | 53.915 |
| 11 | 8 | J Bright | 53.983 |
| 12 | 15 | R Kelly | 54.134 |
| 13 | 97 | S Van Gisbergen | 54.138 |
| 14 | 21 | D Wood | 54.182 |
| 15 | 16 | S Pye | 54.224 |
| 16 | 055 | G Slab | 54.289 |
| 17 | 33 | S McLaughlin | 54.323 |
| 18 | 55 | D Reynolds | 54.332 |
| 19 | 22 | J Courtney | 54.481 |
| 20 | 18 | J Perkins | 54.599 |
| 21 | 222 | N Percat | 54.686 |
| 22 | 360 | J Moffat | 54.783 |
| 23 | 47 | T Slade | 54.871 |
| 24 | 4 | L Holdsworth | 54.999 |
| 25 | 23 | R Ingall | 55.111 |
| 26 | 7 | T Kelly | 55.117 |
| 27 | 34 | R Dahlgren | 55.138 |
| 28 | 17 | D Wall | 55.228 |
| 29 | 36 | M Caruso | 55.372 |
| 30 | 021 | T Bear | -- |
Weather: Clear, 72 °F, Southwest 7 mph
Session: Race
OFFICIAL STANDINGS
| F | S | # | DRIVER | INTERVAL | LAPS | LED | POINTS | STATUS |
| 1 | 1 | 008 | J Zolecki | 125.634 | 30 | 29* | 185 | Running |
| 2 | 2 | 013 | T Nadz | -25.14 | 30 | 0 | 170 | Running |
| 3 | 7 | 023 | Z Webster | -1L | 29 | 1 | 170 | Running |
| 4 | 5 | 888 | C Lowndes | -1L | 29 | 0 | 160 | Running |
| 5 | 3 | 6 | C Mostert | -1L | 29 | 0 | 155 | Running |
| 6 | 4 | 1 | J Whincup | -1L | 29 | 0 | 150 | Running |
| 7 | 9 | 9 | W Davison | -1L | 29 | 0 | 146 | Running |
| 8 | 13 | 97 | S Van Gisbergen | -1L | 29 | 0 | 142 | Running |
| 9 | 10 | 14 | F Coulthard | -1L | 29 | 0 | 138 | Running |
| 10 | 8 | 2 | G Tander | -1L | 29 | 0 | 134 | Running |
| 11 | 6 | 5 | M Winterbottom | -2L | 28 | 0 | 130 | Running |
| 12 | 19 | 22 | J Courtney | -2L | 28 | 0 | 127 | Running |
| 13 | 23 | 47 | T Slade | -2L | 28 | 0 | 124 | Running |
| 14 | 12 | 15 | R Kelly | -2L | 28 | 0 | 121 | Running |
| 15 | 22 | 360 | J Moffat | -2L | 28 | 0 | 118 | Running |
| 16 | 25 | 23 | R Ingall | -2L | 28 | 0 | 115 | Running |
| 17 | 27 | 34 | R Dahlgren | -2L | 28 | 0 | 112 | Running |
| 18 | 24 | 4 | L Holdsworth | -2L | 28 | 0 | 109 | Running |
| 19 | 28 | 17 | D Wall | -2L | 28 | 0 | 106 | Running |
| 20 | 26 | 7 | T Kelly | -3L | 27 | 0 | 103 | Running |
| 21 | 21 | 222 | N Percat | -4L | 26 | 0 | 100 | Running |
| 22 | 14 | 21 | D Wood | -5L | 25 | 0 | 97 | Accident |
| 23 | 18 | 55 | D Reynolds | -5L | 25 | 0 | 94 | Retired |
| 24 | 30 | 021 | T Bear | -5L | 25 | 0 | 91 | Running |
| 25 | 29 | 36 | M Caruso | -9L | 21 | 0 | 88 | Accident |
| 26 | 20 | 18 | J Perkins | -9L | 21 | 0 | 85 | Running |
| 27 | 11 | 8 | J Bright | -15L | 15 | 0 | 82 | Accident |
| 28 | 17 | 33 | S McLaughlin | -16L | 14 | 0 | 79 | Retired |
| 29 | 16 | 055 | G Slab | -17L | 13 | 0 | 76 | Camshaft |
| 30 | 15 | 16 | S Pye | -29L | 1 | 0 | 73 | Gearbox |
Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)
Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)
Weather: Clear, 72 °F, Northeast 7 mph
Pitstop Frequency: 3x
AI Strength: 95%
PENALTIES
| LAP | # | INFRACTION | PENALTY |
