TCR QUALIFYING PB THE HIGHLIGHT FOR MINEEFF AT SANDOWN

MEDIA RELEASE/Lachlan Mineeff – Photo: Velocity Magazine

A Supercheap Auto TCR Australia career-best qualifying performance was the highlight of Purple Sector Racing Audi RS3 driver Lachlan Mineeff in Round 5 of the series at Sandown this weekend.

Mineeff qualified his Equipment Dynamics/Southern Cross Truck Rentals/Vagparts Australia/Otis Kiama/Forza Brakes Audi RS3 Audi second on the grid, missing out on pole by just 0.1s after a fiercely-contested session.

After flying under the radar in practice, the Southern Highlands racer said qualifying went according to plan.

“During practice on Friday, I didn’t get a clean lap on a good set of tyres, but the car felt fantastic and I knew we had a strong package even if the times didn’t show it,” Mineeff said.

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“In the first segment of qualifying, I ended up third and I felt confident heading into the second segment, knowing we still had some pace in reserve.

“To qualify second was a great result, by far my best qualifying performance in TCR. Now we have to try and achieve a pole!”
 
In the opening race, Mineeff initially slotted into third but was forced wide by another competitor just after a Safety Car restart, falling back to fifth.
 
Starting sixth on the grid with the top 10 inversion for Race 2, a strong start and some incisive overtaking moves saw Mineeff moving up to third place in the early laps, a position he held through to the finish.
 
The combined results from the first two races saw Mineeff returning to the front row of the grid for Race 3; despite being muscled out in the cut and thrust of the first corner jostling for position, he settled into fourth position and looked set for a good result before contact with another competitor just two laps from home caused a puncture, which forced him into retirement.
 
“For a lot of that race, I was stuck behind a driver who had a straight-line speed advantage, but I was much quicker in the corners,” Mineeff said.
 
“He ran wide on the exit of Dandenong Road Corner, I was able to draw alongside but then we locked wheels in the last corner, which unfortunately caused terminal damage and ended both our races.
 
“However, our speed this weekend was by far the best we’ve had since joining TCR, and it’s great to be carrying that momentum into the last two rounds of the season, where we’ll be competing against the TCR World Tour competitors as well as the Aussie regulars,” Mineeff concluded.
 
The TCR Australia Series resumes at Sydney Motorsport Park, 3-4 November.

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