[V8SC] Reindler; close but no dice..



On a weekend that saw all seasons thrown at the V8 Supercar regulars, Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing’s [FDSR] Karl Reindler provided some positive focus for the Brad Jones Racing team after the withdrawal of Jason Bright and the car destroying accident of Jason Bargwanna during Race 25 on Saturday, the West Australian ran strongly all weekend and qualified just outside the top ten for Sunday’s feature race.

pic: Chris Bronicki 321Ignition Magazine

Close but no dice..
REVIEW: Karl Reindler Racing, Norton 360 Challenge
V8 Supercars Rnd#25/26 (November 19-20)

On a weekend that saw all seasons thrown at the V8 Supercar regulars, Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing’s [FDSR] Karl Reindler provided some positive focus for the Brad Jones Racing team after the withdrawal of Jason Bright and the car destroying accident of Jason Bargwanna during Race 25 on Saturday, the West Australian ran strongly all weekend and qualified just outside the top ten for Sunday’s feature race.

Weather plagued the event from day one, which saw higher than normal ambient temperatures, but it was the strong wind that was creating the most problems, teams forced to combat a head wind up the back straight, and tail wind down the front.

Despite this Karl was quick, and seventh after session two [bottom 50% of the championship] and 21st fastest with the full field on course, interestingly on used rubber. "I am very keen to see how the car reacts to new tyres, we had a good pace midway through the session and the tyres were well past there expiry."

By the final session of the day, Karl was classified 16th in the Fair Dinkum Sheds supported Commodore, just half a second off the fastest time of the day – AND, he recorded the equal fastest second sector..

"We've got a pacey qualifying car that looks after its tyres, which is a good compromise. We were only half a second off the fastest time in that last session and, in the middle sector, we were equal fastest. That sector's got a long straight with heavy braking into the top of the hill, which is a real confidence corner, so for the car to allow me to do such a good time around there means we're in great shape for the race,” Karl said.

"The time I did is pretty good considering we weren't on green tyres. I think we've made some gains with the car today. In a way, we've stepped out of our comfort zone with the set-up and tried what I consider to be some extreme things. We took what worked from that and developed it from there."

Saturday dawned with yet another set of issues to deal with; rain.. Fortunately it stopped for the start of qualifying, but with drama driving off the turns, Karl could manage no better than 25th, and he was clearly disappointed by the close of the session after Friday’s practice had promised so much..

"The rain got heavier as the qualifying session went on and, unfortunately, we missed the boat early on, when the track was drier. I reckon we were capable of a top ten if it had been totally dry, but it wasn't to be,” he shrugged afterwards.

With title contender Craig Lowndes having qualified behind Karl, he knew that if he locked onto the former champions tail, he might be a chance to work his way forward more quickly. Like Lowndes, Karl did move forward early before pitting at the first Safety Car in an effort to fill the tank to make the distance on one fuel stop. By lap 30, despite the treacherous conditions, Karl had moved into the top 20, and then into P18 before a late race Safety Car period. Off the restart though, Karl was swamped
in the difficult conditions, dropping back to 20th at the flag.

"Off the start, the car just hooked up. I passed the row of cars in front of me but I got to the first corner and I couldn't see a thing with all the spray! The vision was the most difficult thing about today's race,” Karl admitted.

“At its worst, I didn't know if I was on bitumen or grass. We got through with just a few scuffs and grazes though, which we're pretty pleased about considering.

"The restarts were really nerve-racking. I was telling my engineer to get onto the stewards about how dangerous it was, but the race continued - it was just about survival and damage control.

"It’s good to just finish a race like that, the cars were breaking into wheelspin at about 20% throttle in fifth and sixth gear. After the final Safety Car we just had no grip at all so we were a sitting duck and lost a couple of positions.”

Sunday was another day, dawning dry and bright, Karl making the most of his Friday pace to be quickly on the pace, qualifying an impressive P11, just half a second off pole-sitter and championship points leader Jamie Whincup, and 14 spots up on team-mates Andrew Jones and Jason Bargwanna.

Off the start he was quickly swamped by reigning champion, the Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney, becoming an HRT sandwich, with Bathurst champion Garth Tander close behind.

Try as they might, neither could shake Reindler who stuck to Courtney’s tail like glue, following him inside the top ten before the first round of stops..

Sadly, that’s where the dream ended, the car stalling during the stop and then the starter motor failed to engage. That dropped Karl back to rear of field where he mounted a recovery, before pitting from the lead at two thirds race distance, rejoining 20th before a door skin peeled off, Karl though continuing to move forward to record a 17th placed finish.

"I think it was a great comeback from last to 17 but it's a little bittersweet. I was running with Tander and Courtney at the start and both of them ended up with a good result.

"In the pit stop I did everything as normal but the engine died. I hit the starter button but the starter motor wasn't connecting. It felt like I stood still for 10 seconds and we dropped back to last. Those 10 seconds were very painful considering the effort in qualifying. The car wasn't looking after its tyres that great but we were still up there in P11 and it was looking good for a decent result.

"The racing's so much cleaner up the front. My car was straight until I dropped back to last and then everyone's running into the back and side of you. It looks a bit sorry for itself now.

"It's a real shame for the FDSR team, we were looking good today and I think with our strategy we had a chance at a top 10, it was not to be unfortunately.

“I had some great battles from that point on but when you are stuck in traffic and fighting, the front guys were just pulling away. It will be great to get to Sydney in a couple of weeks time for the final, and enjoy the festivities of the weekend with our friends at Fair Dinkum Sheds.”

So now it’s down to the final race of season 2011, the Telstra 500 street circuit at Homebush in two weeks time (December 2-4) where the championship battle will come to its conclusion.

2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series - Race 25,
Norton 360 Challenge, Sandown, Melbourne, VIC (November 19, 2011)
1. Rick Kelly (Holden) - 37 laps
2. James Courtney (Holden)
3. Todd Kelly (Holden)
4. Will Davison (Ford)
5. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford)
6. Craig Lowndes (Holden)
7. Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
8. Garth Tander (Holden)
9. Fabian Coulthard (Holden)
10. Steve Owen (Holden)
20. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Holden)

---------------------------------

2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series - Race 26,
Norton 360 Challenge, Sandown, Melbourne, VIC (November 20, 2011)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 65 laps
2. Mark Winterbottom (Ford)
3. Will Davison (Ford)
4. Craig Lowndes (Holden)
5. Garth Tander (Holden)
6. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford)
7. Tim Slade (Ford)
8. Lee Holdsworth (Holden)
9. Rick Kelly (Holden)
10. Steve Owen (Holden)
17. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Holden)

---------------------------------

2011 V8 Supercar Championship Series (points after race 26)
1. Jamie Whincup (Holden) - 3033 points
2. Craig Lowndes (Holden) - 2845
3. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) - 2449
4. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) - 2414
5. Garth Tander (Holden) - 2388
6. Will Davison (Ford) - 2345
7. Rick Kelly (Holden) - 2211
8. Lee Holdsworth (Holden) - 1857
9. Alex Davison (Ford) - 1781
10. Fabian Coulthard (Holden) - 1767

26. Karl Reindler (Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Holden) - 1045
---------------------------------

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 - Coates Hire Ipswich 300 (August 20) - KRR 9th
Rnd#17 - Coates Hire Ipswich 300 (August 20) - KRR 16th
Rnd#18 - Coates Hire Ipswich 300 (August 21) - KRR 16th
Rnd#19 - L&H 500, Phillip Island, VIC (September 18) - KRR 28th
Rnd#20 - Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, NSW (October 9) - KRR 14th
Rnd#21 - Armor All Gold Coast 600 (October 22) - KRR DNF
Rnd#22 - Armor All Gold Coast 600 (October 23) - KRR 22nd
Rnd#23 - Falken Tasmania Challenge (November 12) - KRR 24th
Rnd#24 - Falken Tasmania Challenge (November 13) - KRR 20th
Rnd#25 - Norton 360 Sandown Challenge (November 19) - KRR 20th
Rnd#26 - Norton 360 Sandown Challenge (November 20) - KRR 17th
Rnd#27 - Sydney Telstra 500 (December 3)
Rnd#28 - Sydney Telstra 500 (December 4)  
---------------------------------

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.
 




LATEST IMAGES

Click on image to view gallery..