HEIMGARTNER MASTERS SYMMONS PLAINS FOR HISTORIC TOYOTA BREAKTHROUGH

Andre Heimgartner snapped a grueling two-year winless streak in spectacular fashion, steering his Brad Jones Racing (BJR) Toyota GR Supra to a dominant victory in Race 15 of the Repco Supercars Championship.

The milestone event, the 100th Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars race held at Tasmania’s historic Symmons Plains Raceway, delivered a dream outcome for BJR, marking both the driver’s and the team’s first-ever win with Toyota.

SEE OUR FULL TASSIE GALLERY HERE

SEE OUR FULL TASSIE GALLERY HERE

Heimgartner secured pole position earlier in the afternoon after using a nice slipstream behind Matthew Payne during a drying qualifying session. When the lights went out for the 50-lap SuperSoft tyre sprint, Heimgartner launched perfectly to lead the pack into the opening sector.

While championship leader Broc Feeney made a brilliant start from the second row to pick off Payne for second, he could not find a way past the flying #8 Toyota.

During the opening stint, Feeney threw everything at the leader, repeatedly looking down the inside of Symmons Plains’ notorious Turn 4 hairpin. Relying on sheer composure and a setup throwback, Heimgartner utilized the high line, carrying speed through the cambered corner to deny the Red Bull Ampol driver an overlap.

“We went back to a more traditional BJR set-up, which works well on this car as well. We have been quite experimental up until now… Great to finally win a race in the dry!” — Andre Heimgartner

The defining tactical moments unfolded around Lap 27 when the leaders pulled in for their mandatory stops.

Penrite Racing took an aggressive route with Matthew Payne and changed only two tyres to leapfrog those ahead.

Brad Jones Racing relied on their legendary pit crew speed, executing a flawless four-tire stop that allowed Heimgartner to retain the effective net lead.

Payne initially slotted into second but was left exposed on older rubber. On Lap 35, Feeney capitalised on a side-draft down the back straight to secure second place, setting his sights on the leader. However, Heimgartner had already broken the back of the field, comfortably maintaining a gap to finish more than 3 seconds clear at the checkered flag.

SEE OUR FULL TASSIE GALLERY HERE

Anton De Pasquale mounted a fierce late-race attack on Payne for the final podium spot. On the penultimate corner of the final lap, De Pasquale pushed past the limit, locking up and sliding off the track. While he recovered to finish fifth, the mistake gifted fourth place to Will Brown.

The emotional victory marks Heimgartner’s third career win and his first since Taupō. Crucially, it serves as his first-ever Supercars victory in completely dry conditions, cementing Toyota’s powerhouse arrival in the championship after a historic Saturday sweep in Tasmania. With Kostecki failing to score significant points, Broc Feeney has widened his advantage at the top of the standings.

One more race to go this weekend at Symmons Plains the longer 84 lap finale.

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