AIS National’s David Sieders has sliced his way through the field on the Adelaide Parkland circuit for a Top Ten finish in the Reverse Grid Race in the Auto One V8 Ute Series – protected by Armor All, 3 March 2012.
The three-time Adelaide Ute Pole Sitter made his way from 24th place on the starting grid to finish in 10th position in only six racing laps after a first lap incident triggered a two-lap Safety Car, with three cars retiring before the second turn.
“It often takes a lot of luck to make your way through the traffic, and I definitely had a bit of that today,” said Sieders, “but I also made some for myself - capitalising where some of the mid-field drivers weren’t as committed”.
“The Reverse Grids killed us last year, but Adelaide was probably our best round for it in 2011,” said Sieders, “and I was able to find my way through the field again this year”.
“It’s just a shame that we weren’t racing through the field because of the Reverse Grid.”
Sieders’ phenomenal drive today has also secured the 27 year-old from Londonderry in Sydney’s West will also take home $500 as the SS Inductions Hard Charger for the first round of 2012.
“The Hard Charger Is one of the Awards we hadn’t won before today, so it’s nice to tick off another box.”
After taking a historic hatrick of Pole Positions at the Adelaide Circuit for the Ute Series on Thursday, Sieders took the early lead in the opening race of the 2012 season yesterday.
However, an electrical issue on lap five of eight caused the fuel line to turn off, and despite being able to reset the system, Sieders had fell to the rear of the field and finished in 25th.
“Being a production-based category, these cars have some of the same safety features as your road car, which in a high G-Force impact is designed to shut off the fuel, but we do high G-Forces just racing.”
“It’s an issue that has been rectified in all the FG’s overnight,” said Sieders, “it’s just a little disappointing to fall victim to it, leading a race on our way to a possible third consecutive opening round win.”
“It’s not great, but at this stage we’re inside the Top Ten of the ENZED Leaderboard, so tomorrow we’ll try to make our way to the front and claw back a few points.”
