REYNOLDS PADDLES ONTO THE PODIUM AFTER POLE POSITION ON THE GOLD COAST

Penrite Racing has bounced back from Bathurst in emphatic fashion with pole position and a podium placing for David Reynolds in the first race of the Gold Coast 500, today.

Race report

After an epic top 10 shootout lap that took him from P6 to pole position, Reynolds flew off the front row and into the lead of the race.

He went toe to toe with 2022 champion Shane Van Gisbergen for the opening 15 laps before relinquishing the lead and settling into a consistent pace.

Meanwhile Holdsworth who started P19, went straight into the heat of the mid pack battle as he sized up Broc Feeney.

Reynolds race was almost taken from his hands, quite literally, when his steering wheel came loose at the halfway point.

The team scrambled to organise a backup before hastily tightening the nuts on his wheel during his second pit stop, as they managed to get car 26 back into the race without losing any time.

As temperatures in the cars soared and drivers fatigued, the final 20 laps become a grind with Reynolds forced to fend off Chaz Mostert and Holdsworth finding himself in a four-way battle to the finish.

On the treacherous concrete lined street circuit, both drivers kept it on the island. Reynolds scoring a morale-lifting second place and a famous Gold Coast surfboard trophy, while Holdsworth gained three placed from his grid spot in P15.

DRIVER COMMENTS

Reynolds said: “It’s been a great day for us. To get a podium and a pole position is a fitting reward for all the hard work done by the team to have my car ready.”

“That was one of the hardest races I’ve ever done, 85 laps around here is tough work and I really felt the heat in that one. I’m totally smashed. I did my best to keep Van Gisbergen behind after the start of the race but just couldn’t match his car pace.

“Then in the middle of the race my steering wheel started coming loose and it hurt my lap times. I was glad to hang on for P2.

“Backing up tomorrow will be a real test, our car is quick and I’d love another surfboard to take home.”

Holdsworth said: “We were on the back foot from the start of the day. It’s very hard to pass around here so qualifying is everything. I got stuck in a race long battle with Feeney which really hurt our chances of moving forward more spots.

“The car is straight and we get another qualifying session tomorrow to set up our day. I’m looking forward to giving it everything to start higher up and finish the weekend on a high.

“Congratulations to Dave and the car 26 crew on an outstanding job today!”

Reynolds leading the field in the opening stages of Race 31

RESULTS

Race 31

Reynolds: P2

Holdsworth: P15

TOP 10 SHOOTOUT

Reynolds: P1

QUALIFYING

Reynolds: P6

Holdsworth: P19

Drivers return to the track for a qualifying session, top 10 shootout and Race 32 of the Repco Supercars Championship.