ANTON TAKES PENRITE RACINGS SECOND VICTORY IN SUPERCARS eSERIES

MEDIA RELEASE/Penrite Racing – Image: supplied

Penrite Racing’s Anton De Pasquale scored his second victory and another podium in last night’s Supercars All Stars eSeries, while teammate David Reynolds took a best of 11^th, falling just outside the top ten.

Race 11 – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Starting from pole for the fifth time in the series, Anton was the man to beat and got off to a ripping start but slipped back to second through the tricky first section.

David, starting from P13, got caught up at the first complex but was able to race on and make his way to 10^th before pitting at the end of lap 4.

Anton took his compulsory pit stop from the lead on lap 6, re-joining behind Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin.

A tangle between Shane and Scott saw the #17 have to re-dress and Anton made the most of the situation, getting by the Falcon on the final lap to take second place and his sixth podium of the Series, ahead of his teammate who was just outside the top ten in P11.

Race 12 – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

A reverse grid set the scene for the night’s second race – David starting from P19 and Anton P28. It was absolute chaos at the start with former Nascar Champion and wildcard Joey Logano spinning in front of the field and turning just about everybody around.

David somehow managed to make it through the mess and up to 6^th before the majority of the field pit under Safety Car.

Now P8 and P21 on the restart, David raced well though could only manage P16 at the finish. Anton was forced to pit again for a second time with damage but was quick to make some moves, producing the fastest lap of the race, and finishing ahead of David for P15.

Race 13 – Watkins Glen

The #99 Penrite Holden started off the front row for the second time of the night and a beautiful start saw Anton take advantage of a shaky start from pole sitter Shane van Gisbergen to instantly take the lead.

David wasn’t so fortunate, stuck down in P17, and was spun at Turn 1 though did a tremendous job to get back to P14 before pitting at the end of lap 5.

Anton pit the following lap and good strategy saw him rejoin the race just ahead of Scott McLaughlin for the effective lead.

Once the order was corrected Anton opened the margin to over 3-seconds to take a convincing win, while David cruised home in P17.

Race 14 – Watkins Glen

The second reverse grid of the night saw David start from P13 and Anton from the rear of field in P29.

Both cars got away well but in what has become the norm in reverse grids, it was bedlam at the start with David being pushed at the first corner and to the back of the pack.

Anton pit early on lap one with damage after making ground, up six spots from the start. David took his stop on lap 5.

Both Penrite racers drove well though were unable to capitalize on the reverse grid format, David eventually finishing in P19 ahead of Anton in P25.

Anton De Pasquale commented on his highs and lows: “I think the races where the qualifying sets the grid are really good fun. Me, Shane and Scott are having really good battles every week, the races are close and there’s some really good moves happening. It’s a good show. 

“In Race 11, the first race at Montreal I qualified really well and was on pole and I had a really good start, but I just pushed a bit hard on the cold tyre into turn 1-2 and went a bit into the grass. It probably would have been a different story if I could hold the lead but that’s ok, it was a really good race and we all – Shane, Scott and I – crossed the line fairly close to each other which is what the show is all about. 

“In Race 13 at Watkins Glenn, I started second. It’s a track where you can get a total advantage by getting a run on your own, but it can also be a disadvantage because of that understeer behind cars, so you always struggle out in front. I was lucky Shane ballsed up his start a bit and that gave me a clean run into one and then it was a pretty clean race from there. That one was a lot of fun. 

“It’s just unfortunate that the reverse grids aren’t the same. 90 per cent of those reverse grid races are based on what is happening in front of you so the dudes who crash in the first reverse grid race end up crashing in the second one and then you have to try to get through, but it ruins the race for a lot of the drivers.”

David Reynolds felt he has continued to improve: “I feel like I am getting better, but everyone looks like they are getting better as well. I have played almost every day for the last two weeks and I am definitely improving, and my times are better, but so is everyone so it’s a bit like I haven’t gone anywhere. I still feel years behind the top guys. 

“The problem is where I qualify, I’m always involved in some accidents so it’s hard. You have to qualify further up to stay clear of the crap. I will learn. We are getting better.

“I really enjoy hanging out with the team. Al, Tom, Wayne and Paul have been great. Having those guys talking to me & helping me, it’s good fun. They are talking to me all the time and putting in heaps of effort to help me. I had Anton helping me a lot too so that’s increasing my learning speed a lot so it’s just as much of a team sport as what it normally is.”

Next week’s round of the eSeries takes us to Europe with races at Spa and Nürburgring, both circuits where Anton has had previous successes.

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