Sandown 500 - Day Three
SUNDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER
MAIN GAME
Race day at the Sandown 500 saw teams tackle 500km and 161 gruelling laps. The day kicked off with the warm-up session, where both cars familiarised themselves with the track conditions and completed crucial pit stop and driver change practices. Car #6 finished the session in P6, while Car #55 looked strong in P2, setting up an exciting race ahead.
Ahead of the race, Cam Waters emphasised the need for speed and precision, while James Moffat spoke about execution, noting the excitement of seeing a full grandstand again. Tom Randle was optimistic, eager to move forward during the race.
Car 6 had a challenging start, with Cam slipping back a few spots off the line. By Lap 70, they were on track for a solid top-five finish. However, with 39 laps to go, Cam had a tough battle that sent him off onto the grass, causing further setbacks. As tyre degradation kicked in, the car gradually lost positions, but they ultimately crossed the line in P6. Cam noted that although they gave it their all, they couldn’t quite find the car speed or tyre life needed to push higher. Despite this, they’ll take the learnings from Sandown and come back swinging for Bathurst.
Car 55 had a bit more drama. Pitting on Lap 20 to try a different strategy, they were caught out when the safety car appeared just one lap later. The car sustained some external damage from various on-track battles but was looking better by Lap 70. A five-second penalty on Lap 90 set them back further, but Tyler managed an impressive stint, battling hard and managing the tyres well. The car crossed the line in P13, with Tom noting that despite the challenges, the car was quick and a P13 finish wasn’t too bad given how the race unfolded. Tyler added that the race was busy and eventful but there were plenty of positives to take, leaving the team feeling strong heading into Bathurst.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a podium, the team remains positive. The cars showed great potential in both race pace and single-lap speed, and with Bathurst a couple weeks away, the team is confident of achieving a strong result.
QUOTES FROM DRIVERS
Tom Randle - Car #55
“That was pretty bloody eventful. We went for a pit stop at lap 20 to try something different then the safety car came out lap 21 — so that wasn’t ideal, we went back to well last last. Tyler did a mega job in his stints. The car was super quick so to finish P13 in the end considering how the race panned out for us, I don’t think its too bad”
Tyler Everingham - Car #55
“Was a pretty busy race, there was a lot going on. Think we’ve got a lot of positives to take out of this and had pace all day long so we’re heading into bathurst pretty strong and I look forward to it”
Cam Waters Car #6
“Not the day we hoped for but we threw absolutely everything at it today. Moff did an awesome job just didn’t quite have the car speed or the tyre life. P6 in the end — could of been a bit higher but its okay, we will work out what we did right and wrong this weekend and make sure we come back at Bathurst swinging”
DUNLOP SUPER 2 SERIES
The final day of the Sandown 500 weekend brought another qualifying session and race for the Dunlop Super 2 Series.
In qualifying, Brad slotted into P2, securing a front-row start and recovering perfectly from Saturday’s performance. He felt confident heading into the race and hoped to get off the line well. Rylan, starting in P11, was pleased with the car but admitted a slight mistake cost him a top-five position. Lochie qualified P16, not quite where he wanted to be, but he remained hopeful for a stronger race result.
Race 2 delivered a huge moment for Brad, who claimed his first Dunlop Super 2 win. “Finally got the monkey off the back and picked up a race win with over a second lead,” he said. It was a well-deserved victory. Rylan had a tough run, finishing in P16 due to a mechanical issue at the start, but his race pace was strong, and he’s eager to put it all together at Bathurst. Lochie managed to move forward, finishing in P10, but felt that the race pace didn’t quite reflect what they were truly capable of.
The team is now looking ahead to the next round at Bathurst
TOYOTA 86 SERIES
The final race of the weekend, Race 3, saw a P13 finish. Race 3 had its share of safety car interruptions, but the team was pleased with the progress made since Sydney. The focus now shifts to the next round at Bathurst, with confidence building for a strong performance.
The Toyota 86 Series will return to the track at Bathurst in October.
