|
Second position in the Class B portion of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for Peter O'Donnell was a highlight for the GWS Personnel Motorsport Team at Sandown Raceway on the weekend, as the team endured a largely frustrating event running three machines.
O'Donnell teamed with Allan Shephard for the season ending twin one-hour long races, although the pair could not repeat their Bathurst 12 Hour class victory, with a loose exhaust curtailing their charge in the first race, and suspension damage bringing their second race unstuck.
The second of the GWS Personnel BMW 130is was piloted by experienced kiwi Bruce Tomlinson for the weekend, who bounced back from a DNF on Saturday to be placed 14th in race two.
Meanwhile the team's Celica driven by David Giugni provided a highlight for the weekend by winning the battle of Class C on Saturday.
Giugni managed to hold out multiple Production Car champion Colin Osborne in the run to the finish by only three seconds, impressing many trackside by the rare feat.
Despite the frustrating final round, there were still many positives to be taken from the four previous events, and lessons learned at Sandown will put the team in good stead for their Bathurst 12 Hour campaign next year.
"The car performed well this weekend with some very good lap times, and it was good to team up with Allan again," said O'Donnell.
"I'm very happy with the way in which my own driving has developed this year, there have been a few really good tight battles this year, and next year we are looking to improve on our second in the championship."
An unfortunate incident with a faster car during the Sunday race saw the BMW head to the pits to replace a bent rear control arm, with repairs dropping the team out of final contention.
"The effort the team has put in throughout the season has been just tremendous, they have displayed a lot of cohesion, and it really takes the pressure off me and Allan as the drivers," said O'Donnell.
For Shephard, getting back the behind the wheel of the BMW 130i was a good feeling after a heavy incident early in the season at Eastern Creek.
"The car was sensational all weekend long, there were a couple of little niggles, but that's why we were here using it as a real-life test session for the Bathurst 12 hour," said Shephard.
"After Peter was tagged by the faster car, the team did a top job getting the car back on to the track in only three laps.
"The wheel alignment at the back wasn't perfect and braking was a bit of a mystery, but I still managed to chase down Geoff Kite's Commodore at the end."
Christian D'Agostin is likely to team up with Shephard and O'Donnell again for the Bathurst 12 hour, while Tomlinson is scheduled to be joined by former Production Car champion David Ryan in the second GWS Motorsport BMW.
New GWS Personnel Motorsport Website
GWS Personnel Motorsport is proud to announce that their website is now online at www.gwsmotorsport.com. The site features all of the latest news, photos and driver profiles from the team in their quest for Australian Manufactures Championship and Bathurst 12 Hour glory.
GWS Personnel and True Blue Motorsport would like to thank The Shire Conveyancer, Spinifex Australia, Rogue Lager and Briffa Smash Repairs for their continued support in the Australian Manufacturers Championship.
|
