The program for Sunday at Taupo was Qualifying 3 (to determine the grid for Race 4), and then Race 3 and Race 4.
Qualifying went really well with us heading out on an older set of tyres first and then pitting for new tyres to rejoin the session with around 9mins to go. I managed a 1:23.8 on my last lap which gave me P8 in another very close session.
In Race 3 I once again had wheelspin off my P8 starting position and was P10 out of the first couple of corners. I was then behind American Dev Gore, and this circuit is particularly difficult to pass on.
Mid race, whilst pressuring to find a way past Gore, Marcus Armstrong came up behind me, as he had been coming through from the rear of the grid. I looked to defend, however he got a run on me down the straight and got by, so both he and I were now looking to get by Gore. In the process a pack of 5 other drivers had managed to get on to the back of us.
Into the last chicane, Armstrong made a move in Gore, and Gore lost his car slightly off the track on the inside. At the same time, Armstrong ran deep and almost lost his car to the outside. This was all right in front of me with the pack of other cars behind.
I made a quick move around Gore to be right behind Armstrong, but the whole pack of us were together down the straight. I was really pleased to defend well, keep my position through the next few corners, and to then pull away once all had settled down. I ended the race in 9th position.
In Race 4 I was started off P8 and got away to a good start off the line for the 20 lap race to be P8 as the race settled down. In the early laps I made my way up to P7, and was right on the tail of my team mate Kazuto Kotaka.
Though I felt I was quicker, there was no way past Kotaka as he drove very tightly, and as I said previously Taupo is a difficult circuit to pass on. I kept the pressure up and made attempts where I could however, and we stretched a very handy gap on Cameron Das behind which was out to nearly 7 secs with 8 laps to go.
Then however, a safety car changes all of that and we were once again bunched up for a single file restart for a race over the remaining 4 laps to the line.
I had a good restart, and kept the line very tight giving Das no chance on me from behind whilst I of course looked for an opportunity on Kotaka.
With 2 laps to go another safety car was called and we were to finish the race in this way. I was really pleased with my performance this race where I felt I raced hard and very solidly without error.
Overall it was a good weekend, with some good points in the Championship. Bruin and the team at MTEC gave me a fantastic car to drive and I would like to thank all of them and in particular my engineer David, and mechanics Thomas and Harry.
Thanks to Mick Kouros for his guidance, and of course my fantastic sponsors Lazersafe, High Energy Services, Online Logistics Solutions, Edith Cowan University, The Wealth Designers (TWD), Grand Toyota, Fullworks Firesafety, Rvend, Inspired Insurance Services, Walker Wayland WA, Signarama Joondalup, F45 Hillarys, Trizone and Focused Recruitment.
I am so grateful to my amazing team of investors who are behind my racing, and everyone who has supported me over the weekend.
Next stop is Circuit Chris Amon and Manfield for my first Grand Prix, the New Zealand Grand Prix.
