CHELSEA MAPPAS
V8 Supercars driver James Courtney showed admirable persistence when he successfully won race 27 at the Gold Coast 600 on the weekend.
The Gold Coast 600 welcomed 197, 872 fans to witness the highs and lows of their favourite drivers.
Courtney and co-driver Jack Perkins pushed past injuries and set-backs to gain Courtney’s sought after win.
Courntey’s achievement has been commended by fans not only because of his performance on the day, but because he competed after recently suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung.
The commitment to the weekend by Courtney, Perkins and their team was seen in the final race when the team had to act strategically to save the little fuel they had left in the car, whilst still racing to the finish line.
Courtney was cleared to drive last week by his doctor and he performed remarkably, coming out on top.
While some have turned their luck around for the best, the track did not fare as well for others.
Mark Winterbottom was unlucky on Saturday when he experienced a championship altering pit-lane crash.
Winterbottom has been waiting 12 years to win the title, and the pit-lane crash could very well alter the end results for the worst.
Winterbottom completed the weekend in 11th place while Craig Lowndes, who took advantage of the pit-stop situation, came out on fourth by the end of the weekend.
“It is an absolute disaster,’’ said Winterbottom’s Prodrive Racing Australia boss Tim Edwards after the series leader ploughed into Tander on a lap 35 pit-stop.