Traffic trumps the Tradesman's Choice
Traffic on the final day of racing at Barbagallo Raceway has seen AIS National's David Sieders slide from the top of the Enzed Drivers' Championship of the Auto One V8 Ute Series - protected by Armor All.
Sieders, who entered this weekend's round with a minor two-point advantage, now finds himself three points off the lead, and in third position, with New Zealand V8 Ute Champion Chris Pither now in first position by one point from reigning V8 Ute Champion, and West Australian, Grant Johnson.
"It's really disappointing to lose that top spot, but our focus and goals remain unchanged," said Sieders, "it's the weekends when you're not winning races, and how you deal with them, that plays out in the long run."
"Race wins, this year, don't carry the same advantage in points like last year, so as long as we're in touch with the Championship front runners each session, then we know there's a good chance of having a real shot at the Championship by the final round."
For the opening race yesterday, the top 22 finishing positions from Race One were inverted for the starting grid, meaning Sieders' fourth placing had him starting from 19th.
With the second and third placed cars in the Championship able to take advantage of the pressure he was applying to the cars in front, Sieders was only able to finish the race in 16th position, losing a significant points advantage he held going into the final two races.
"For the reverse grid race in Adelaide I just got a dream run; when I needed something to happen for me, it just seemed to happen, and we were able to grab 12 spots...today I got no such luck."
"Too many times yesterday, whilst the guys I was putting pressure on were busy worrying about me, they put us both in a position that left the door open for the guys charging behind me to get a run and pass on both of us."
In the final race of the weekend, Sieders started the race with a three point advantage over Chris Pither in the Championship, but starting from 8th place, Sieders was already six and seven points behind his two closest Championship rivals, who started on the front row.
Despite a good start, Sieders found himself on the outside of the advantage line going into the first turn, but a mistake from the car in front of him let three cars through on the inside, and Sieders was forced to push his way back through the field, finishing the race in eighth.
"Going into the last race so far back from [Grant] Johnson and [Chris] Pither, and with some of the best Championship contenders in front of me, it was going to be tough to hold onto that Championship lead."
"When I got baulked through turn one by [Gary] Baxter on the first lap, I pretty much expected that I wouldn't be going home this weekend in first place, so I knew I had to get as many points as I could so that I didn't slip too far."
Backing-up from the inaugural V8 Ute event at Barbagallo Raceway, it was local hero Grant Johnson who took out the final race and round win ahead of Chris Pither, with Sieders finishing six points off the podium, fifth overall for the round, and the only Ford in the top seven drivers.
The Auto One V8 Ute Series now heads to Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin for Round Three of the Championship on 17-19th June, and Sieders is determined not to let this year’s Championship chase follow the trend of last year.
“It feels a little like DejaVu, heading to Darwin for Round Three in third place, after leading the Championship from Adelaide for the second year in a row, but that’s where the similarities should end.”
"There's only three points back to the Championship lead, and unlike last year, I won't be heading to Darwin with an engine that is 50 horse-power down, so I expect to have a much better run than last year, and keep myself right in the mix at the top."
